that's the only way they can get the dough and for gibbs so say this. >> gibbs also said in the same context, we're going to bring the issues to the people. so this was a notification of the democrats that we could lose the election. that's what he was trying to do. am i right or wrong? >> you're right to this extent. that was something he dropped out of there and after he dropped it out, he said we're trying to alert the parties of a real serious problem. that was the line to clean it up. that was damage control. >> right. >> i wouldn't over think this. he said what is obvious at everyone else in washington has been saying and he did send a message to the public that this is not election where you just want to register your disapproval that you're going to make a real choice. what you get if you toss the democrats out and vote the republicans in. it's also revved up the fund raising on the part of democrats, frankly. >> really? >> within the democratic caucus, the leadership packs, the people with safe seats, they now see the danger of losing their committee chairman, too. >> the ot

robert gibbs says that we completely disagree with that, comparing u.s. soldiers with east german secret police. >> will be any consequences for u.s. military strategy in afghanistan? >> the national security adviser says that nothing will change. the white house also pointed out that these documents that were revealed are from a time span from 2004 to 2009. presidt obama, ter th, d change the strategy in afghanistan therefore, this is irrelevant, the lead from wikileaks. >> thank you very much for that update from washington. >> the eu foreign ministers have approved a tough package of sanctions aimed at convincing iran to stop developing its nuclear program. the sanctions target iran's oil and gas industries, which are key elements of the country's economy. it includes a ban on eu companies selling energy roduction equipment to iran. >> finding consensus is not always easy for eu foreign ministers. but on monday, they should resolve to get to run back to the negotiating table. the decision to -- to get tehran back to the negotiating book. >> the europea

one point a flustered gibbs was even told sherrod was watching it on television. >> apparently she's watching this briefing, shirley sherrod, on cnn right now. is there anything you want to say to her? (laughter) >> she's watching it? >> i understand. >> she's watching you. >> and let me... the secretary is trying to reach her? >> reporter: it all started three days ago when a clip lit up the internet and cable outlets. but that wasn't the whole speech or the whole story. >> it was just unbelievable, unbelievable to me. >> reporter: it turns out, sherrod didn't say anything racist at all. her comments were edited and taken out of context which the administration would have known if someone had known if some one had watched the entire tape before they fired her. >> they definitely didn't do the right thing because they didn't look deeper to see what i was trying to say to them. please look at the whole tape so that you see what my message is. >> reporter: her message in the speech was one of unity. >> it's really about those who have versus those who don't. and they could be black, th

but republicans smell blood, calling it gibbs-gate and proclaiming today they will win enough seats. >> i think we're going to be slightly over 40. >> i know these guys are popping the champagne bottles over there already. but the fact of the matter is, the democrats will retain a majority in the house. >> reporter: the most recent abc news poll shows while voters don't have much confidence in democrats in congress, just 32%, they have even less confidence in republicans, just 26%. democrats continue to label the

to those leaks. >> robert gibbs says that the president is very concerned about this breach of national security. but, as you said, he pointed out that nothing is really new. in particular, the idea of how the pakistani intelligence does possibly corporate with the taliban -- he said repeatedly that the president, in march 2009, said that we know pakistan has mixed records here. we do not issue a blank check. that suggests that the american aid for past is not changing aft the release these documents.relsyi wikiles. >> revealed a chgehetreg you very much for cg and gas insteswhh e llg er >> findingminte. hropn unitrong ldi traan th tbul s nvteth aivmaty.knnthkiin gog head bemtmea rorsoorlangow pr ntuetousw o dngidofamics utobe qute blhe sre? shes> be but imeinesand worthl. it is just ane. it will not international markets. >> only seven othe 91 eopn weret actuly faid to make the a man them, five spanish lenders. --mo emere five spanish lenders. quest for a wrap up of today's -- >> 4 rap up of today's talks stock exchange -- >> another topic will important this trading week. second quart

do you think gibbs is right? >> i think gibbs is being honest. it's nice to see. i think he's being very honest and probably it rattled some people. because the narrative is, oh, well, we're going to win, we're going to keep these seats. that's not where all the polling dat -- the polling data showing the majority of americans are losing confidence in this administration. they're not happy with the way things are going, concerning jobs. our unemployment rate is at 9.5%. so they're -- you know, they're not very happy. i think we're a little bit too close to the midterms here in order to really back-pedal and turn a lot of that around think right now they're just sort of setting expectations kind of low. and they'll probably come in a little bit lower than that. whether or not republicans will take back the house, i don't know. >> larry: stephanie, off-year election, generally the party in power loses. >> yeah, absolutely. the thing dan that doesn't mention about these polls is everybody hates everybody. you know, they hate republicans more. and democrats in congres

as the story persisted, gibbs looked to reframe the matter, predicting at wednesday's press briefing that democrats would hold onto their majorities in both houses. >> there are a whole host of issues that will be worked on in the next couple weeks that will highlight the choices that voters will have. and i think... i think in that choice, we are going to do very well. and i have said throughout this, i think we will retain the house and the senate. >> holman: by thursday, it seemed the white house and pelosi were on better terms, although she still lamented gibbs's comment. >> the president's message that we are not going back is the message of the democrats in congress, as well. so i don't see a problem. i think the comment was unfortunate. >> holman: meanwhile, house republicans looked to take advantage of the spat. their leader john boehner went so far as to say a "full-scale civil war" had erupted among democrats. >> lehrer: and to the analysis of shields and brooks-- syndicated columnist mark shields and "new york times" columnist david brooks. full scale civil war among democ

in an appearance sunday on nbc's "meet the press," white house press secretary robert gibbs was asked if the democrats' majority in the house was in jeopardy in november. >> i think there is no doubt that there are a lot of seats that will be up, a lot of contested seats. i think people are going to have a choice to make in the fall, but i think there is no doubt there are enough seats in play that could cause republicans to gain control. there's no doubt about that. >> holman: that angered some house democrats, who responded that the obama administration had fallen short in its efforts to help members win re-election. in a closed-door caucus meeting tuesday night, house speaker nancy pelosi reportedly rebuked gibbs for his comments. and those concerns were only stoked by publication of an abc news/"washington post" poll this week that said voters favored republicans over democrats in the battle for congress. as the story persisted, gibbs looked to reframe the matter, predicting at wednesday's press briefing that democrats would hold onto their majorities in both houses. >> there are

simple statement of fact, and calling it gibbs-gate proclaiming they will win enough seats. >> i think we'll be slightly over 40. >> i know the guys are popping the champagne bottles already over there, but fact of the matter is, the democrats will retain the majority of the house. >> reporter: a most abc news poll says that while voters have just 32% confidence. >> and what we're proud to say no to and what the government wants to us say no do, insurance companies, car companies. >> it's scaring the living daylights out of them. >> reporter: the democratic chair was emphatic despite the low poll numbers, president obama will be on the campaign trail and candidates will want him there. unlike his weekend in maine, it will n saven to save seats in november. >>> zsa zsa gabor is undergoing hip replacement surgery at a los angeles hospit the 93-year-old actress broke her hip over the weekend at her bel aire ohm. gabor has been using a wheel chair since partially paralyzed in a car accident. >>> time for sports. highlights from espn news. >>> good morning, i'm adnan virk. it was a man nick

white house spokesman robert gibbs conceded today the firing of shirley sherrod was hasty and wrong. >> she is owed an apology and i would do so on behalf of this administration. >> lehrer: it all began when the conservative web site biggovernment.com posted video of sherrod, from an n.a.a.c.p. event. she described working for a farm assistance group in 1986, and meeting with a white farmer who, she said, acted "superior." >> i was struggling with the fact that so many black people had lost their farmland. and here i was faced with having to help a white person save their land. so i didn't give him the full force of what i could do. >> lehrer: that was part of a two and a-half minute clip and once it got out, the agriculture department quickly demanded sherrod's resignation. the n.a.a.c.p. also condemned her comments, until last night when it posted her entire 43- minute speech on its web site. in it, sherrod went on to say meeting the white farmer actually changed her views. >> working with him made me see that it's really about those who have versus those who don't. you know, and t

or rein in gibbs? >> one is he has to get out there and make the case. he has started to recently. his trips to nevada and missouri he started to frame the election in the way they want, that this is a choice, not a referendum. but the house democratic leadership was pretty strategic during this week and got further commitments for more visits. they're getting a fair amount of money. the three national party committees are getting $25 million from the d.n.c. to help, so there is stuff they're doing but they've got to do more. >> there's horse trading in washington? gwen: yeah. so let's go back a bit. often overlooked in the back and forth over the economy is the sound of dominoes falling far from washington. that's what happens when chronic joblessness, slumping home values, and overall anxiety have a long-term effect on society as a whole. perhaps that's why the president doesn't seem to get the credit, even when he wins? doyle? >> i think it's a big part of the victory, gwen. the poll numbers aren't the only ones giving him heartburn. unemployment still around 9%, likely to stay

bert gibbs is all for it. but if it doesn't happen, hey, he's not leaving. >> 'cause i love it here. >> reporter: danashley, abc 7 news. >> final approval of the project will be up to the california coastal commission. and we have a love story where education came first. up next, the local couple living their american dream. you want some fiber one honey clusters? yeah. you must really care about him. what? no, no. you gaveim fiber. she didn't. this tasteway too good to be fiber. they're delicious crunchy clusters with sweet hoy and half a day worth of fiber. you care about my fiber? not really. i care about your fiber too. have for a while. ok, carl. why don't you car? hey carl. [ male announcer ] fiber one. cardboard no. delicious yes. ok. what if i just had a small slice? was good today, i deserve it! or, i could have a medium slice and someelery sticks anthey would cancel each other out, right? or...ok. i cod have one large slice and jog in place as i eat it or...ok. how about one lge slice while jogging i

white house press secretary gibbs ignited a firestorm with this comment. >> i think there's no doubt there are enough seats in play that could cause republicans to gain control. there's no doubt about that. >> reporter: gibbs says he's stating the obvious but sources say speaker nancy pelosi is angry at him and deeply unhappy the white house isn't doing more to help. after meeting with the president, pelosi said he will now campaign more for house democrats, but that creates another problem. many vulnerable democrats don't want the increasingly unpopular president in their districts at all. many of those vulnerable democrats say, yes, wall street reform is a good thing, but what their constituents desperately need now is jobs. chip reid, cbs news, the white house. >>> this morning on "the early show," new revelations about the mel gibson phone rant. >>> and a performance by sting. i'm betty nguyen. this is the "cbs morning news." my job is to hunt it down. i'm fred lemond, and i'm in charge of bp's efforts to remove oil from these waters. bp has taken full responsibility for the clea

gibbs revealed the apology tom vilsack made to the president. >> i'm sorry. i made a mistake. i acted before i had the full benefit of what had happened. >> reporter: clearly this has been a distraction to the white house this week. they hoped it would have been about the president dealing with the fragile economy and signing into law -- as he did late today -- an extension of unemployment benefits for some 2.5 million americans, brian. >> chuck todd in washington tonight. chuck, thanks. >>> there is new trouble tonight for the former chairman of the house ways & means committee. the long-time new york democratic congressman charlie rangel has been investigated on ethics charges for the last two years. the next committee in the house found he has violated some ethics rules. there will be hearings, we learned today. while he told the media he's happy about the development, our own luke russert asked if he feared he would lose his job and the following exchange took place. >> are you concerned about losing your job? >> what are you talking about? you're just trying to make copy.

a fuse lit by spokesman, robert gibbs, saying that democrats could lose the house this november. >> i think there's no doubt, there's enough seats in play. that could cause republicans to gain control, there's no doubt about that. >> reporter: remarks many house democrats thought unappreciative and suspected as an attempt by the white house to distance itself from am impending loss. >> i think the comment was unfortunate. >> i think robert gibbs' statement was completely wrong. we're not going to lose the house of representatives. >> reporter: and it prompted larger gripe sessions among house democrats this week with the president. what's their beef? one democratic congressman told me that, quote, obama has a general thrust of, we've got to do tough things. and then he says to congress, okay. you guys go do that, without providing us enough cover of guidance. you saw it during health care. you saw it during financial reform. we're doing a lot of heavy lifting for him. and it's almost as if the guys in the white house are saying, you should be saying thank you to us. k you?'s, what the

no point even though a lot of the questions i would even say the majority of the questions to mr gibbs were about this week he leaks not once did he necessarily dispute the content of it he did sort of try to say again that wiki leaks was not totally credible and he really disputed how this came about that this is a breach of federal law so certainly the white house coming down but in addition to this criticism they are also really really downplaying what has been released on wiki leaks they're saying that you know this is from a period of time the majority of which president obama wasn't even in office it was a time that he wasn't overseeing the war and that since december two thousand and nine which is sort of when this picture that's painted in the documents and the relationship between the united states and pakistan has gotten much better he says also sort of trying to turn this wiki leaks story around he says you know some of these atrocities that you see in these leaks well these are the reasons that president obama saw to throw more money he said that it shows that the war was u

white house press secretary robert gibbs ignited a firestorm this week with this comment: >> i think there's no doubt there are enough seats in play that could cause republicans to gain control. there's no doubt about that. >> reporter: gibbs says he was simply stating the obvious but sources say speaker nancy pelosi is angry at him and deeply unhappy the white house isn't doing more to help. after meeting with the president last night, pelosi said he will now campaign more for house democrats. but that creates another problem. many vulnerable democrats don't want the increasingly unpopular president in their district at all. now, many of those vulnerable democrats say wall street reform is fine, but what their constituents are desperately calling for now is jobs and they're just not seeing it. katie? >> couric: chip reid at the white house tonight, chip, thank you. and on the matter of jobs, chip mentioned the stimulus program the president was touting today in holland, michigan. our cynthia bowers was there. >> reporter: president barack obama climbed into an electric car today hop

here's wabb's tarya gibbs. >> reporter: he's your typical toddler. but a week ago, his child like curiosity, nearly cost him his life. >> the chair was going backwards. >> reporter: the 17-month-old fell on top of a pressure washer. the "l"-shaped hook, seen in this x-ray, is lodged in the brain. one of the worst impalements the surgeon had ever seen. >> this story had two possible outcomes. one is very good. and one is very bad. >> reporter: the wound was near the largest blood vessel in the brain. that's why neurosurgeon credits the medical care he received before he arrived at unc hospitals. >> nobody gave up hope. everybody knew it was serious. >> reporter: as it turns out, his uncle, carlton redd has emt training. so does his aunt. and their neighbor is a rescue squad volunteer, who had a saw capable of cutting the power washer. still, it was touch and go, before and after the risky surgery. >> didn't sugar-coat anything. he said, mr. jones, more than likely, we pull the screw out-his head, he's going to bleed out and bleed to death. >> reporter

a fuse lit by spokesman robert gibbs saying that democrats could lose the house this there are enough that could cause republicans to gain control, there's no doubt about tha ter anye democrats thought unapprecia and suspected were an attempt by the white house to distance itself from a pending loss. >> i think the comment was unfortunate. >> i think robert gibbs' statement was completely wrong. we're not going to lose the houf epativ largripens house deday lasnighhe pnt. what's their beef? one democratic congressman told me that, quote, obama has a general thrust of, we've got to do tough things and then he says to congress, okay, you guys go do that, without providing us enough cover or guy dance. you saw it during health care, you saw it during financial reform. we're doing a lot of heavy lifting for him and it's almost as if the guys in the white house are saying, you should be saying thank you to us. and it's, what the beep? thank you? didth wpyoing the >> there's always room for improvement and i know our members would like to s president out there more talking about our accompl

joining us now from the white house is the president's press secretary, robert gibbs. mr. gibbs, good morning. >> good morning. >> i want to ask you very quickly about charles rangel, this bipartisan committee, bringing charges against rangel. they cite a pattern of indifference and disregard for the law. if this trial happens it will happen in september right in the midst of the congressional elections. should charles rangel quit? >> well, look, harry, i think, as you mentioned, there's the bipartisan committee looking into some very serious charges. we think that's certain there right thing to do. i don't want to prejudge the outcome of that. i think that democrats going into this midterm election have an agenda to offer the american people about moving our country forward. s that where we will spend our time talking about this. >> all right. so today you go to detroit. and you are going to visit a gm plan and you will visit a chrysler plan. people will be stunned to know that both of those companies are turning a profit. they are hiring new workers. does it surprise eve

robert gibbs. thank you for joining us, mr. gibbs. let's take these on in order, starting with the economy. the president is to there is some bad news that will be joining him. the economy does not seem to be expanding. the unemployment rate seems as though it will stay where it is what is the good news he c deliver th >> well, the good news that the president will talk abou is in the auto indust chris, an investment had to be made in the auto industry. restructuring had to happen. and now, for the fir since 2004, all three of the big three auto companies showed a profit in the first quarter this year. and instead of shedding jobs, more than 300,000 last year, the year before the president came in, the auto industry, for the first time in more than a decade is expanding. so there is good news. the economic recovery is certainly fragile. but, chris, if we look back to the last six months of 2008, where we were losing 3 million jobs in that six months, we've actually added jobs in the six months -- the last six months of this administra

robert gibbs experienced some of that -- >> i've never had a gaffe. >> you've never had an issue can that. no, i know. so you can't relate. but he said that enough seats are in play in the house for the democrats to possibly lose the house. empirically true. how bad are the losses going to be for democrats? >> i don't think the loss is going to be bad at all. i think we're going to shock the heck out of everybody. i really -- and i've been saying this now, i think when you and i went down to north carolina, you followed me on a recovery trip, i was saying it then. i am absolutely confidence -- confident, when people take a look at what has happened since we've taken office in november and comparing it to the alternative, we're going to be in great shape. here's the deal. what robert gibbs also said is what he believes, what i believe, what the president believes, we're going to win the house, we're going to win the senate. we're not going to lose either one of those bodies. and so -- again, this is july. november. and at the time the most vulnerable time any public official finds him

and even now, some of his own party are complaining after press secretary robert gibbs says there's a chance the democrats could lose control of the house of representatives. >> democrats said, we're going vent our complaints about the white house, and so we have had a week of political intrigue and drama. >> the biggest problem is the biggest victories have not put a dent in the unemployment rate of nearly 10%. the number one issue for most americans. mr. obama says he hears the anger. >> if somebody is out of work right now, the only answer that i'm going to have for them is when they get a job. up until that point, from their perspective, the economic policies aren't working. >> alan: now, on tuesday, the senate plans to vote again on a bill extending unemployment benefits through november. last extension ran out at the end of may, leave 2-g .5 million people without benefits. since then lawmakers have been battling the measure. the republicans will only approve if the bill is paid for. $34 billion would be needed. this morning, in his weekly address, president obama accused g.o.p.

. >> in defense of robert gibbs, the white house press secretary who the other week said the democrats are in danger of losing the house. that was meant as an alarm, meant to lower expectations and also make the point that john made. is it's unusual to have this discussion now. these weafs tend to surprise people and that's the one glimmer of hope obama has. chris: is this going to save the democrats, this offshore warning? >> it will certainly help, that and scott brown. he was also a big warning for the democrats, they hope before it's too late. chris: we'll be right back with scoops and predictions. tell me something i don't know. be r [ female announcer ] jobs leaving. a budget disaster. california on the brink. jerry brown's plan? you run for office and the assumption is, oh, i know what to do. you don't. i didn't have a plan for california. [ female announcer ] with our state in crisis, we need a governor with a plan. you need a real plan, something i'll acknowledge i did not have. [ female announcer ] jerry brown. no plan then. no plan now. meg whitman. a plan for jobs. log on.

so to me it looked like dred scott and i think gibbs was wrong and i think any other owner who does that to a player should face the consequences. i think it is really wrong. >> chris: and finally, less than a meft, reverend jackson. should charlie rangel make a deal to get democrats off the hook and avoid the spectacle of a public trial in the fall? >> it is a personal choice. if charlie feels that he is innocent, he feels he would vindicate himself and so he may want to go through the due process route or may make a political decision but those are his choice to make and i respect charlie rangel for what across his 30 yearsist 30 of public service. >> chris: thank you for coming in today. always a pleasure to talk with you, sir. coming up, the fallout from the shirley sherrod case from the white house, the media and the national conversation about race. our sunday regulars weigh in, and believe me, you won't want to miss it. we've got to capture. there my job is to hunt it down. i'm fred lemond, and i'm in charge of bp's efforts to remove oil from these waters. bp has taken full respon

gibbs said it was etched in stone and the president had the chisel. but that has done is send an uncertain trumpet to afghanistan. recently, i was outside canada hard -- kandahar. and a police chief said that the afghans believe we are leaving. that is the message that has penetrated cuban -- penetrated to a great degree. >> be using that strategy, giving succor to the taliban, do you think general petraeus will alter the strategy in a way that they understand the strategy? >> as much as i respect general petraeus -- and by the way general carter, the british general there -- the fact is the word comes from the president of the united states. he is commander in chief. the president has to say unambiguously is condition-case. -- it is conditions-base. the president has to say that. >> to you think the timetable by president obama is really a problem? >> it is apparently very clear that in the last few months things have slowed down. it was perhaps more difficult than we anticipated. the operation in kandahar is proceeding, but not on the timetable. the

. >> i hear nancy pelosi was furious about what robert gibbs said on television. >> she was very angry. the house liaison for the obama administration got an earful. this comment was a great washington moment it was behind what was said. everybody knows the house will be in play. this tore off the bandage on it won't between the house democrats and this white house. house democrats have long felt that this administration is overly senate-focused. they have done three events for harry reid and not one for individual house members. this was the first spark that tore open this. you saw that in nancy pelosi's private caucus and i'm sure you saw it at the white house thursday. >> these people have cast some very tough votes. they think that clinton cared more about himself and that is one of the reasons they lost the house in 1994. nancy pelosi has been an extraordinary speaker. she is probably would offend the best and most beloved speakers since sam rayburn. the fact that she blew a gasket is fine. >> do you think the president is more focused on the senate? >> yes, a key is spread -- yes

robert gibbs experienced that. >> i have never had a gaffe. >> you have never had an issue with that. no, i know. so you can't relate. but he said that enough seats are in play in the house for the democrats to possibly lose the house. empirically true. how bad are the losses going to be for the democrats? >> i don't think it will be bad at all. i think we're going to shock the heck out of everybody. i've been saying this now. when you and i went to north carolina, you followed me on the recovery trip. i said it then. i'm absolutely confident that when people take a look at what has happened since we have taken office in november and compare it to the alternative, we're going to be in great shape. here's the deal. robert gibbs said what he believes, what i believe, what the president believes, we're going to win the house and we're going to win the senate. we're not going to lose either one of those bodies. this is july. november, and at the time, the most vulnerable time any public official finds himself in is when they have no opponent. look at harry reid. i got banged around when i

maybe not as optimistic as robert gibbs but i like our chances. i mean the reality is, and you see this whether it's tea parties or town hall meetings across the country, the american people are tired of borrowing and spending and bail-outs and takeovers and i believe they're poised to express themselveses in the mid-term elections. how republicans are determined to give voice to those millions of americans that want to see our country turn back to limited government, personal responsibility, freedom and the fundamental principles of the american family. >> chris: congressman clyburn, you were in a meeting of house democrats this week. where your colleagues were blaming the president for not providing political cover and forcing a lot of tough votes. let me put something up on the screen. here is what congressman said to the "washington post" -- he accused the white house of wanting to pre-emptively pin the blame on lawmakers, should the democrat lose majority, and not on obama's sagging approval rating. question, how widespread is the feeling amo

at the white house, robert gibbs apologizes. on fox, bill reilly apologizes but finally, the president himself calls shirley himself. colby, what you make of this? >> it is a sad commentary on where we are as a country. if you listen to the speech, it was a good speech, made the exact opposite point that the right-wingers tried to make out of it. but everybody behaved bad up and down the line, including the president. i wrote an article that set the administration showed its two colors -- true colors, which is yellow. >> perhaps you ought to apologize for saying that fox news had on the air before the administration fired her bro. our story appeared on fox news later. -- her story appeared on fox news later. and the secretary about culture repeated his intention to have her fired -- secretary of agriculture repeated his intention to have her fire. the 6:00 news show, i call for reinstatement and an apology, as did the entire fox news channel. -- panel. >> nobody mentioned that the naacp called for her firing. that speech was to