which we need to do, but also put this country on a path of fiscal sustainability. >> when you look at our nbc "wall street journal" poll, and we ask specifically, on the two third rails if you will, inside boat parties, taxes with republicans, entitlements with democrats, a majority told us they don't want democrats in general to cave in on using cuts in medicare and social security in this deficit reduction plan. what do you say to the base of your party which clearly, frankly, may be more animated on this than even the tea party is on taxes with the republicans? >> nobody likes having to do the work that we're having to do now, which is why revenue is a percentage of gdp is at a 60 year low and why government spends a a percentage of our gross domestic product is at a 60 year high. politicians don't want to tell the truth about this stuff. we've come to an inflection