chuck schumer says he will back chuck hagel as defense secretary. secretary of state hillary clinton with a long-time ally, liberia's president ellen johnson surleaf. >> it's important to be here today to see that you have fully recovered from your recent illness. >>> on "today" chelsea clinton speaks for the first time about her mom's recovery. >> she is exuding the energy, the vibrancy, and certainly the mental acuty that she always has. i am so grateful that she is not only fine, but healthy and vibrant and strong and, you know, god willing, will be for the next 65 years of her life. >> and chelsea clinton is also chairing the national day of service on saturday. more on that to come. good day. i'm andrea mitchell live in washington. the political cavalry has arrived. new york senator chuck schumer has given his seal of approval to president obama's defense nominee. any decision that could rally senate democrats and signal an easier path to confirmation for former senator chuck hagel. joining us now washington post columnist greta -- white house

i guess chuck schumer is too a death threat? >> haegel's supporters support him because of the principle. he wanted to talk to iran and so forth and who knows where he is going to stand should he become defense secretary. how can you trust this guy haegle? >> you cannot. he represents the obama administration's foreign policy. he is handing off the cut backs to a former member of the military. i do not expect him to be part of the foreign policy. it will be closely held as it was in the first administration. he is a big defense cutter. maybe that is ironic he is a dedicated vietnam vet. it is going to slash the defense department more. >> the question is whether you are going to trim the budget with an axe of scalpel. chuck haeg eext lel can't get i. it takes decades. >> he was opposed to it. >> that may be one reason why he stepped down. i'm told that there is no sorrow. this is frying pan an fire. i know that chuck haegel a month into this process is likely to be the secretary of defense and the defense department is adjusting

how big a push does hagel get from chuck schumer's endorsement? earlier in the week there was some ambivalence from chuck schumer, wasn't there? >> reporter: absolutely. i think hagel get a big push. i think a lot of eyes were on chuck schumer to see what he decides. he met with hagel. the two sat down at the white house, had a long meeting, and chuck schumer came out of that meeting essentially saying he now supports hagel's nomination for secretary of defense. one of the key points he makes is that he feels as though hagel has shifted positions on some of these controversial issues and comments that he brought up in the past, on iran, on israel, and he specifically says that hagel now understands the fact that israel is in a more endangered spot than it was, essentially acknowledging the administration's position which is that iran has gotten closer to acquiring nuclear weapons, so hagel basically telling schumer he would support unilateral action on iran, would not take any option off the table as it pertains to iran around understands some of

chuck schumer, john mccain, dick durbin, marco rubio and bob menendez will discuss the plan. we'll bring it to you live. our first read team notes this is the first time senator mccain signed on to a priority of president obama. he takes the vision on the road to las vegas. but within the last hour, white house press secretary jay carney confirmed the president would not unveil specific legislation. the plan unveiled today would be the first major immigration overhaul proposal in six years but one border state democrat congressman castro of texas say that is the devil is in the details. >> we've got to make sure that those measurements, when we have determined that we have secured the border, that those measurements are objective. otherwise you will have fights down the road where folks are saying, well, wait a minute. let's not move on to the second phase of the bill because we have not first completed the first phase. >> besides border security, there's guest workers and employer verification and a path to citizenship for the 11 million illegal immigrants in this country. l

i believe that chuck shum schumer will vote for chuck hagel. >> let's just point out that we were -- when you see a picture of the east room of the white house, the press corps awaiting, right now hamid karzai and president obama are having lunch, and when they come out, we were told it would be at 1:15. if they come out, they will each make statements and answer questions. clearly the president is also going to be asked about domestic issues. i would suspect guns given that that is one of the prime issues that the white house is dealing with right now as joe biden continues meetings on the gun issue today. chris alissa, when we talk about president obama and what he is facing in changing his team, when david gregory asked on "meet the press" about hagel, and i think we all expected that the number three democrat in the senate would say, okay, great choice. he said, well, not so much. we'll have to wait to see what happens at the hearing, or something like that. chuck todd and i were sitting at the table on "meet the press" and said whoa. >> we got a 33 second answer, which is never

even after the tax increases, he is going to follow along what chuck schumer would say. more tax increases to come. how do you feel about that in the impact from that? >> i think that the speech was political. they can't be that stupid to continue to divide america. whenever i see them hitting those that were successful are those that one, did they forget that that is the american dream? lets all have a shot at making it in life. you know, i started off homeless and made it. when you start dividing people and you have stupid suggestions like that, i also think that one you have chuck schumer making a statement as a democrat, chuck get elected and has big corporate money behind him. so a lot of what is going on now is political. i do not think the democratic party will spend us to death. they look around and see it what is going on. neil: they might be more inclined to just continue to attack the rich are far more creative ways to get money from the rich. because i don't think chuck schumer was talking about raising anyone's rates beyond what they are now. how do you feel

chuck schumer. >> doesn't need a prompter. >> all right. now, all of his enthusiasm yesterday helped fuel speculation about a presidential run in 2016. just take a look at some of the recent headlines. i've got scarborough over here throwing stuff. i get no respect. i'm like rodney dangerfield. vice president biden invited key players -- >> i'm almost positive he was drinking apple juice. i just poured this jameson. do we really want to see what's going to happen? >> look at this. this is incredible. i can't even get through the script. what am i going to do? what am i going to do? >> come here. >> come on. this is just embarrassment. ow. still ahead on "way too early," why are you awake? your tweets, texts and e-mails are next. and "morning joe" and none other than mika and joe are moments away. ♪ just one bite opens a world of delight... ♪ savor and explore, the great indoors ♪ ♪ friskies indoor delights. ♪ feed the senses. officemax can help you drive suand down.s down... use your maxperks card and get a 10-ream case of officem

chris: what about -- >> chuck schumer. >> not just chuck schumer. but other reassurances, for example, among the neo-cons. about iran, about israel, and so forth. you're going hear a lot more statements publicly from the president in order to make sure that hagel gets through. which he will. chris: let's go about the gun issue. which is very troubling to a lot of people. will we get a substantial package that looks like the n.r.a. didn't like it but it still passed? >> it will be small and discrete. >> they're more likely to get a smaller package than a larger one. >> i agree but this issue is moving faster than people think. chris: are we in a unique time where people will bounce against the n.r.a. and say no, you're wrong this time? >> the n.r.a. will oppose everything so yes. and in that sense. you'll get background checks and might get some limits on the high capacity clips. and health care -- and mental hettle proposals that relate -- health proposals that relate to gun violence. chris: marginal victory for the president. and we have talked abo

you know, the problem for chuck schumer is not so much getting republicans to get used to it. what about all those red state democrats in the senate. those are the people that are probably hyperventilating right now over what chuck schumer said if you look at the l.a. tour map, there are six, seven, or eight red state democrats that face reelection in 2014. melissa, i don't think too many of them are relishing the idea of voting for another tax increase. i wonder whether the chuck schumer, harry reid budget could pass the senate, even with just democratic votes because you have so many people that are up for reelection that are going to be very reluctant to stick their necks out and vote. by the way, as you know, we just had a $600 billion tax increase in the fiscal cliff negotiations. plus, we had $520 billion of new taxes from obamacare. this would be the third tax increase. melissa: i really hope you're right because i feel their is a tide of higher taxes. its role in norway. it will keep all of us out to see no matter what our income bracket because it seems like before th

even after the tax increases, he is going to follow along what chuck schumer would say. more tax increases to come. how do you feel about that in the impact from that? >> i think that the speech was political. they can't be that stupid to continue to divide america. whenever i see them hitting those that were successful are those that one, did they forget that that is the american dream? lets all have a shot at making it in life. you know, i started off homeless and made it. when you start dividing people and you have stupid suggestions like that, i also think that ne you have chuck schumer making a statement as a democrat, chuck get elected and has big corporate money behind him. so a lot of what is going on now is political. i do not think the democratic party will spend us to death. they look around and see it what is going on. neil: they might be more inclined to just continue to attack the rich are far more creative ways to get money from the rich. because i don't think chuck schumer was talking about raising anyone's rates beyond what they are now. how do you feel

melissa: new york senator chuck schumer laying the groundwork. pick up tomorrow morning after all the warm fuzzy feelings are over. clearly democrats still calling for more taxes. how will it all plays out and who will get stuck with the tab? looking back to today's amazing power panel. the man in charge. and the fox news political analyst, hedge fund manager. fox news contributor. in know, when i hear chuck schumer, that sounds like a bully on the playground. tomorrow and coming back and i'll take a back pack. >> they feel the momentum is going their way. nowhere in the address to dated he elena plan to get all the spending under control. he talked about addressing our big budget down the road. i'm paraphrasing here. it was not the same sense of courtesy that republicans have had about this. so with the sense that they get out of this president, the same commitment to go after entitlements, he did ot seem to intimate that. we have to it dot the is and cross the t's. but nothing but it is general statements today indicated the president who is wi

if he did not have chuck schumer's support. let mess bring in lo receipta sanchez how significant do you believe this decision is. >> chuck schumer is a very bright guy, and i think it's a very good coupe for umer senator hagel to get his endorsements. honestly, unless you really want to gum up the senate, i see the former senator being confirmed. >> let me go back to guns now. i'm sure you'd heard the discussions by now, concern by some that the president may be overreaching? >> it will be interesting i think the whole shy has to not only be approached by the congress, but the sharing of information. so how he does it, what laws exist that allow or don't allow it will be interesting. but i remember when patrick kennedy was for years trying to get parity. on the other issues, i think this issue of large magazine of bullets will be an interesting one for the congress to approach, but one the house of representatives, i just don't believe we're going to find the votes to make legislation that i think should happen, like the magaz

we got a statement from chuck schumer. there will be a strong democratic vote for this proposal and hopefully we will vote before midnight. we spoken to other who's say that's probably not likely. senator harry reid says they are waiting for the coo as well. let's go to nbc's kristen welker at the white house. tell us what you are hearing from your sources there? >> good evening, milissa. according to chuck todd, breaking details from that meeting that vice president biden just had. no one in the meeting said they were planning to vote against this bull once it does move through the senate, it doesn't mean they won't. they didn't voice opposition during that meeting, so that is significant this idea there is some liberal revolve doesn't seem to be coming to the floor, the vice president's agreement received very well. and speculation it could get as many as 80 votes. the vice president putting to caucus members this way. the second part of a three-part process. first was the budget control act. this deals with the issue of

melissa: new york senator chuck schumer laying the groundwork. pick up tomorrow morning after all the warm fuzzy feelings are over. clearly democrats still calling for more taxes. how will it all plays out and who will get stuck with the tab? looking back to today's amazing power panel. the man in charge. and the fox news political analyst, hedge fund manager. fox news contributor. in know, when i hear chuck schumer, that sounds like a bully on the playground. tomorrow and coming back and i'll take a back pack. >> they feel the momentum is going their way. nowhere in the address to dated he elena plan to get all the spending under control. he talked about addressing our big budget down the road. i'm paraphrasing here. it was not the same sense of courtesy that republicans have had about this. so with the sense that they get out of this president, the same commitment to go after entitlements, he did not seem to intimate that. we have to it dot the is and cross the t's. but nothing but it is general statements today indicated the president who is w

chuck schumer senator from our great state here in new york. really an indispensable ally to the president. most would agree when chuck schumer came down on the side of voting for chuck hagel as defense secretary, that sealed the deal, would you gentlemen agree? >> yeah. i never could envision how he would start obama's second term by coming out and going against chuck hagel for secretary of defense. never made any sense and yeah, once he came out, the story ended. i loved the media chatter about how hagel has this huge confirmation battle and will end up with 90 votes. schumer was the first and final voice on that, i think. >> john: i think that was more due to the alleged controversy over comments about the israeli lobby by hagel unfortunately called the jewish lobby. chuck schumer one of our most powerful jewish members of the senate. >> i was surprised. even this morning, i was watching tv. there were anti-chuck hagel ads being run by this -- one interest group. i was quite shocked. they went after him for the israel, for comments he made a

iris wine stawn, wife of chuck schumer, and the wife of harry reed and mr. paul pelosi, the husband of house minortiy leader nancy pelosi. >> announcer: ladies and gentlemen, the first lady of the united states, mrs. michelle obama, accompanied by secretary of the senate nancy erikson, clerk of the house of representatives, karen h0. 0s, mrs. schubert, mrs. reed and -- [cheering] in >> next up we're going to see the approach and about to be announced of vice president, the world's happiest guy, bill biden. don't think we have ever seen him except in times of national crises without that smile on his face. >> and why not today. >> it's the effect of joe biden's remarks on this administration. they were an odd couple. he was the hot to barack obama's cool. >> he was the punch line for a lot of late-night monologues. if anything, joe biden has emerged in this administration has a key player and indispensable player in dealing with the congress and the political part of politics, the people part of politics which the president does not spend a lot of time, effor

their paths crossed and really chuck schumer wanted an opportunity to have a face to face meeting. he made that request. as you point out, they met at the white house. they spent a considerable amount of time and a couple of issues that stood out for chuck schumer and others, the positions that hagel has held with respect to iran and israel, would he, in fact, support the fullest protection of israel if there were any kind of a threat from iran that materialized? also, issues related to gay americans and would there be an issue with that, especially given the fact he's serving a democratic president? so they spent the time, they talked it out and very important indication that schumer will encourage his colleagues in the senate to go along and support the hague el nomination, as well. one of the sort of dances that's going to happen here is typically a former senator or senator put up for nominee in this way is confirmed pretty easily among friends in the senate who know them and have a personal history so to have resistance to chuck hagel has been one of the more unusual circumsta

we've got another drama within a drama there, which is chuck schumer and-- chuck schumer a democratic senator from new york, jewish, seen as a decisive vote inside the senate and the republicans mostly oppose hagel and the question for the democrats go and could be following schumer's league and going to enjoy this drama as long as he can and get on tv a lot saying i'm deciding, i'm deciding, you'll deciding, and see what he's doing in the end. >> and what do you think of the pick of the president for a republican. >> and commenttators would say why would you pick someone with such tense rowlations as a republican. most republicans don't see chuck hagel as a stand-up guy anymore. and said the reason he's there, is they're asking republicans, nominal republicans to cut the defense budget, that's one thing to do in republican circles and that's why he's there. >> jon: have the politics of this choice been examined? if you want to fracture the republican senate the way you fractured the republican house with a the fiscal cliff vote you pick chuck hagel. >> it's interesting, and folks wen

>> chuck schumer owes them an apology. he is right, he organized the inaugural events, he hired her, she can go up and lip-synched. thit is common at an event witha larger performance involved, you're not paying to see them, but she did not do that. the one thing that worked, if there is pay involved, they should withhold her pay and do that with other performances in the future. look, we know this works because the host threatened to withhold the pay of the senate if they didn't come up with a budget, so we have the rest of them coming up with a budget for the first time because we threatened to withhold their pay. that is how you do it. liz: that is right. go ahead, david. >> when we get back to the budget, why won't they do a budget? they have already spent the money, the new tax bill, and again, what do we see coming out of this senate? you go and debate bills, vote on them. speaker every time i checked republicans are filibustering anything they don't want to debate they cut off the debate. >> i think beyoncÉ getting

chuck schumer was saying you have mccain and rubio up there with chuck schumer shows there's bipartisan appeal. it could fall apart. house republicans gave the cool response. there was barely a republican leader in the house who said a nice deal. >> would they rather see it piecemeal? >> rather piecemeal and without a pathway to citizenship. it's the most important component. you had rush limbaugh saying i'm calling on my listeners and fox news to unite to kill this plan. he's talking marco rubio in particular. >> the citizenship part? >> totally. it's the pathway to citizenship. the idea that some people that came here illegally are going to be allowed, ultimately to stay in the country. that is always turned off. >> your odds against the descendent on the time line by the end of spring? >> it can get through the senate quickly. then we get to the house. you have to understand the congress you are dealing with. in the house, it is a much more conservative, much more southern group of republicans who are hostile to immigration. it doesn't mean it can't be done. ultimately, this, unlike

the two men met chuck to chuck on monday and schumer seems to have liked what he heard. schumer said hagel would use the military force to keep iran from going nuclear and that he won't negotiate with hamas or hezbollah until they recognize israel does exist and has a right to keep on doing so. so now everyone can call the jewish schumer anti-semmite. israel may have found its two chuck solution. let's bring moo my guest. comedian ben kissell on cave comedy radio. sherrod small an actor and comedian who appears on literally every show on television. and comedian dave rubin, host of the rubin report on rubinreport.com. thank you all so much for joining us tonight. so i know all of you have been lying in bed awake at night haunted by your doubts about chuck hagel. >> you know it. >> john: does chuck schumer clear it up for you? >> i'm glad the chuck on chuck hate is over. >> a guy named chuck has to back another guy named chuck. it is not like john, dave, you can find a dave that doesn't agree with you. chuck, you're going to agree with the chuck. i think i'm the only jew

senator john mccain and chuck schumer next on "morning joe" brewed by starbucks. with the spark cash card from capital one, sven gets great rewards for his small business! how does this thing work? oh, i like it! [ garth ] sven's small business earns 2% cash back on every purchase, every day! woo-hoo!!! so that's ten security gators, right? put them on my spark card! why settle for less? testing hot tar... great businesses deserve great rewards! [ male announcer ] the spark business card from capital one. choose unlimited rewards with 2% cash back or double miles on every purchase, every day! what's in your wallet? here's your invoice. what's in your wallet? meet the 5-passenger ford c-max hybrid. when you're carrying a lot of weight, c-max has a nice little trait, you see, c-max helps you load your freight, with its foot-activated lift gate. but that's not all you'll see, cause c-max also beats prius v, with better mpg. say hi to the all-new 47 combined mpg c-max hybrid. >>> there are 11 million human beings in this country today undocumented. that's not somethin

>> chuck schumer owes them an apology. he is right, he organized the inaugural events, he hired her, she can go up and lip-synched. thit is common at an event witha larger performance involved, you're not paying to see them, t she did not do that. the one thing that worked, if there is pay involved, they should withhold her pay and do that with other performances in the future. look, we know this works because the host threatened to withhold the pay of the senate if they didn't come up with a budget, so we have the rest of them coming up with a budget for the first time because we threatened to withhold their pay. that is how you do it. liz: that is right. go ahead, david. >> when we get back to the budget, why won't they do a budget? they have already spent the money, the new tax bill, and again, what do we see coming out of this senate? you go and debate bills, vote on them. speaker every time i checked republicans are filibustering anything they don't want to debate they cut off the debate. >> i think beyoncÉ getting h

iris wine stawn, wife of chuck schumer, and the wife of harry reed and mr. paul pelosi, the husband of house minority leader nancy pelosi. >> announcer: ladies and gentlemen, the first lady of the united states, mrs. michelle obama, accompanied by secretary of the senate nancy erikson, clerk of the house of representatives, karen h0. 0s, mrs. schubert, mrs. reed and -- [cheering] >> next up we're going to see the approach and about to be announced of vice president, the world's happiest guy, bill biden. don't think we have ever seen him except in times of national crises without that smile on his face. >> and why not today. >> it's the effect of joe biden's remarks on this administration. they were an odd couple. he was the hot to barack obama's cool. >> he was the punch line for a lot of late-night monologues. if anything, joe biden has emerged in this administration has a key player and indispensable player in dealing with the congress and the political part of politics, the people part of politics which the president does not spend a lot of time, effort,

senator john mccain and chuck schumer next on "morning joe" brewed by starbucks. with the spark cash card from capital one, sven gets great rewards for his small business! how does this thing work? oh, i like it! [ garth ] sven's small business earns 2% cash back on every purchase, every day! woo-hoo!!! so that's ten security gators, right? put them on my spark card! why settle for less? testing hot tar... great businesses deserve great rewards! [ male announcer ] the spark business card from capital one. choose unlimited rewards with 2% cash back or double miles on every purchase, every day! what's in your wallet? here's your invoice. what's in your wallet? meet the 5-passenger ford c-max hybrid. when you're carrying a lot of weight, c-max has a nice little trait, you see, c-max helps you load your freight, with its foot-activated lift gate. but that's not all you'll see, cause c-max also beats prius v, with better mpg. say hi to the all-new 47 combined mpg c-max hybrid. so, i'm working on a cistern intake valve, and the guy hands me a locknut wrench. no way! i'm

chuck schumer who is in the democratic leadership in the senate suggested over the weekend that they were, in fact, going to do a budget, that they had plans to do one all along. i believe it when i see it. gerri: so little credibility on the issue. i mean, four years, four long years with the senate on its hands the whole time. aren't they just a little embarrassed about that? >> you know, i would think so. i think this goes to presidential leadership. this is something we didn't hear from the president yesterday. there were actually four sentences total in the 2200 word address, and when he talked about entitlements and debt, he did it in a dismissive and defensive way. look, we'll protect the programs. he didn't hint at any solution or willingness to engage or be serious about debt and deficits. gerri: i think that's critical because he talked about how it was our responsibility, our obligation to make these payments, but, yet, he's got a situation where the current system can't sustain making payments. >> can't, exactly. gerri: so i mea to make the promise and not deliver, that's

that's from chuck schumer, new york senior senator. there's about 1600 people out on the vip stand there, which is a lot of vips. they start building the stand there outside the viewing steps well before the election. they start preparing for these things even before we know who the president is that is going to be i inaugurated. this is the day we celebrate democracy with more ceremony than any other time in this country. and it seems like it gets bigger ever year. it does not get bigger ever year, it is always big, but there's nothing else like this in which we celebrate our governance. we celebrate this every four years. >> i treasure american history. it was 1793 and up on that hill, it is called jenkins hill before it was called the capitol, the men who defeated the army, george washington, with a french immigrant named pierre, looked down over the swampland, and like the two characters and the producers in a broadway play, they looked down and said, now here, we have a carriageway here to connect the perfect pedestal for the buil

chuck consume schumer has been a terrific defender of the

chuck schumer said today the senate will have a budget that will include more taxes on the wealthy. republicans will have to deal with it. the president suggested as were, that there is still this chasm between the rich and the poor, speaking in the clearest terms that the rich have to do more than they have done. do you think your buddies in the financial community are ready for that? that could be a news alert? they feel they got their taxes hiked. >> i would be surprised if we are talking taxes. >>neil: what are we talking? autumnized deductions. >>neil: they were almost trimmed back, right? >> first, the goal would be to get four plus trillion. it would be great to get 2.5-1, spending cuts to revenues. >>neil: not 40-1. you think the ratio will be more even. >> it will be if you include the first $1.2 trillion part of the budget control act, you will see that is proposal the next that is more 1-1 so you will see around 2-1 i think. >>neil: we could argue over that. >> we argued before. i won that. >>neil: whatever. could i get your sense of where this is going? with the republic

chuck schumer who is in the democratic leadership in the senate suggested over the weekend that they were, in fact, going to do a budget, that they had plans to do one all along. i believe it when i see it. gerri: so little credibility on the issue. i mean, four years, four long years with the senate on its hands the whole time. aren't they just a little embarrassed about that? >> you know, i would think so. i think this goes to presidential leadership. this is something we didn't hear from the president yesterday. there were actually four sentences total in the 2200 word address, and when he talked about entitlements and debt, he did it in a dismissive and defensive way. look, we'll protect the programs. he didn't hint at any solution or willingness to engage or be serious about debt and deficits. gerri: i think that's critical because he talked about how it was our responsibility, our obligation to make these payments, but, yet, he's got a situation where the current system can't sustain making payments. >> can't, exactly. gerri: so i mean to make the promise and not deliver, that'

is it your opinion, politically that if chuck schumer doesn't come onboard that chuck hagel couldn't suffer and not go through and get confirmed? >> i think senator schumer will be critical. >> i think that he will be inclined to support the president's choice. i think most of us would be. at the same time, he is going to have to be satisfied that senator hagel will advance these policies that will seek to prevent iran from ever obtaining a nuclear bomb, and i think if the senator, that is if senator schumer were not persuaded during the confirmation that he would be willing to break with the president and it's that important. the iran issue is simply that important, but again, if i were a betting man, i would say that he'll be confirmed, that he'll satisfy the questions that have been raised, but that fate is very much in senator hagel's hands as well as in senator schumer's. >> the hearings will tell the tale. >> thanks for your time. i appreciate it. >> thank you. >>> bill clinton is in haiti today. we'll take you live to the island nation still devastated from the aftermath of th

. >> it's best symbolized by this unlikely duo of john mccain and chuck schumer on morning joe today. take a look at them together. this is when they were asked about whether this really amounts to amnesty, which, of course, is according to some republicans a dirty word. let's watch. >> this is not amnesty. it is a tough path to citizenship, but it is an opportunity, and they get in line between -- behind everyone who has come to this country legally. >> you have to work. you have to pay taxes. you are going pay a fine. there will be some admission of wrong doing. so it is not amnesty in any sense of the word. >> chris, susan was just talking about warmer temperatures today. it does feel different. maybe we're just all so hungry for anything that's bipart sfwlan, but this seems to be real. >> it does seem to be real. i would say that i think what senators mccain and schumer are talking about is the nub of the issue. particularly can republican members of congress convince their -- themselves and the people who elect them that this path to citizenship clause is tough enough that it doe

joining me now is new york senator chuck schumer, who visited sandy victims in long island yesterday to assure them that they would get the help that they were promised. senator, first of all, congratulations. it's a new congress. you've seen this before. happy new year to you. >> same to you, andrea. >> well, let's talk about what the speaker did and how you feel now and is $9 billion, assuming this can be pushed through, good enough? i mean, it's been delayed. you have people in new york state, new jersey, in the region who are still waiting for basic services and for that first insurance check. >> yeah. $9 billion isn't close to enough. in fact, it's just going to pay for flood insurance which runs out of money next week. we've had so much -- so much damage from floods. not just in sandy, but in irene and even from katrina. so the remaining $51 billion is key, and the house is going to vote on it two weeks from now. we did it in the senate in a bipartisan way. $60 billion. there were amendments that were debated, and we're expecting the house to send us virtually the same bill. th

but chuck hagel's going to pass. chuck schumer's declaration was crucial. the only way chuck hagel would run into trouble is if there were significant democratic defections and i think chuck schumer is a leader and his statement makes it clear that won't happen. >> there is a new poll out that shows most americans support chuck hagel's nomination even though 33% had no opinion, i think for a defense secretary post. that's a pretty high recognition factor. what do you think's going to happen here? >> well, i agree with the governor. chuck hagel will be confirmed. he has the relations in the senate. i think the support from chuck schumer is -- was key. but i think at the same time, it's fair to raise questions about the comments he's made about israel, about his oppositions to sanctions towards iran, his comments about negotiating with hamas. those are very valid questions that republicans need to ask. >> also, the president still needs to pick his chief of staff. critically important position, as you both know. here's a couple of the main candidates. deputy

but i would argue that the most critical meeting chuck hagel will have in the coming days is chuck schumer. he has to be able to answer the questions of the new york senator because he can bring along as many as ten democrats. i was counting last week his statement was coming out after the nomination was announced. notably, the junior senator from new york who takes a lot of cues from chuck schumer. several other senators who are beholden to schumer for helping them get elected in 2006-2008. if the most prominent jewish senator on the democratic side of is there, it could be very difficult for him to get an easy confirmation vote. >> ed o'keefe, michael, thank you. >> thank you. >>> just a reminder, we will have the press conference live here on msnbc that is coming up in about an hour, 11:15. >>> big night for the golden glo glob glob globes for politics. dab el day-lewis won best actor for "lincoln," jessica best actress for "zero dark thirty" and "game change" won three, including best mini series. president bill clinton walked out to a standing ovation and introduced a clip from "linco

this is chuck schumer but it's menendez and almost all the democrats and the president. bottom line is a path to citizenship for the 11 million. so no -- they know what they have so far, and i believe it will continue, giving us the kind of flexibility we need to get a bill done because not everybody agrees with me, agrees with john, or agrees with the head of one or group or another. >> i am getting the gear as we say goodbye to sunday's super bowl. senator mccain, you have a lot of sports packages. tell us about your -- spinning i'm a big sports fan. most mediocre high school athletes are the most avid fans, and that's -- [laughter] and that's what i was. but, you know, i kind of -- nobodnobody thought the ravens d get to where they are, some kind of rooting for the ravens. >> so are you predicting -- let's get predictions speed up close, couple points. student but you're going ravens? >> yes. >> senator schumer, you've been to the super bowl. what is it like? >> i went -- latch you. i am a giants fan. i live and breathe new york giants. it was one of the great experie

chuck schumer has been a terrific defender of the u.s./israeli relationship, but this hagel nomination is very concerning. >> thank you both very much as the debates continue. >>> coming up, we'll break down president obama's leadership challenges over the next four years, both at home and abroad. our political roundtable is here. former senior adviser to president obama david axelrod. host of msnbc's "morning joe," joe scarborough. presidential historian doris ke kearns goodwin. nbc's tom brokaw. and our chief foreign correspondent richard engel. plus, chuck todd. all coming up after this short break. >>> "meet the press" is brought to you by the boeing company. prego?! but i've bought ragu for years. [ thinking ] wonder what other questionable choices i've made? i choose date number 2! whooo! [ sigh of relief ] [ male announcer ] choose taste. choose prego. [ sigh of relief ] tintroducing a revolutionary. it new mascara. clump crusher...crusher. 200% more volume. zero clumps. new clump crusher from easy, breezy, beautiful covergirl. i'v

chuck schumer has been a terrific defender of the u.s./israeli relationship, but this hagel nomination is very concerning. >> i'm going to leave it there. this debate will continue. thank you both very much as the debates continue. >>> coming up, we'll break down president obama's leadership challenges over the next four years, both at home and abroad. our political roundtable is here. former senior adviser to president obama david axelrod. host of msnbc's "morning joe," joe scarborough. presidential historian doris kearns goodwin. nbc's tom brokaw. and our chief foreign correspondent richard engel. plus, chuck todd will be here as well to take us inside the numbers as president obama looks ahead to his second term. that's all coming up after this short break. [ ryon ] eating shrimp at red lobster is a fantastic experience. 30 shrimp for $11.99. i can't imagine anything better. you're getting a ton of shrimp, and it tastes really good! [ male announcer ] hurry in to red lobster's 30 shrimp for just $11.99! choose any two of five savory sh

but senator chuck schumer - who's involved in orggnizing, says they're still ppanning plentyyof pomp and circumstance.schumer says: "the inauguration seees to bee gaiiing in strength in terms of the interest people have and among those ho want to ceremonies - a private one sunday since the constitution calls for the president ttobe &psworn in on the 0th - and th usuallpublic one monday. the military's role is so invvlved that officials have construuted a iant mmp of the ccty to prep and plan. linnington says: "we know the eyes of the nation and the eyes of our worrd are on ouu country so weewwnttto do it right." tey've done lots of walk throughs on the rrd alreaay - aad will do many more beforeetransitioning to the city streets in a couple weeks. linnington says: "paradeedown constitution avenue with a cordon of thousands from all military bbanches will take part - servingga variety of rolee - as ushers uringgthe swearing pprade... a military tradition that dates back to the beginning. linningtonnsays: ""he army, military veterans and veterans of the revolutionary war paaaded with ge

senator chuck schumer of new york released a statement reading in part quote chuck hagel has earned the right to nothing less than a full and fair process in the senate. i look forward to fully studying his record and exploring his views. at the white house yesterday, hagel did not address the controversy surrounding his nomination. >> mr. president, i'm grateful for this opportunity to serve our country again. especially its men and women in uniform and their families. these are people who give so much to this nation everyday with such dignity and selflessness. i will always do my best. i will do my best for our country, for those i represent at the pentagon and for all our citizens. mr. president, i will always give you my honest and most inform informed counsel. >> hagel did however defend himself in an interview with his hometown newspaper in the lincoln journal star saying quote the distortions about my record have been astounding, adding there is not one shred of evidence i'm anti-israeli, not one vote that matters that hurt israe israel. >> mark halperin, back to the democrats an