billionaires and ask our kids to pay for those. >> but the president made the strong case today that he just cannot pin this burden on the middle class right now because of the economic situation we're in. you don't buy that? >> he is absolutely right in saying we have got to do everything that we can to extend the tax breaks for the middle class and make sure that the unemployed get the had help that they need. he is absolutely right. but i think we can do it, if we rally the american people. if people all over this country start writing to republicans. >> he hasn't done that? >> well, you tell me. the issue now is to get republican senators do what they talk about and that is not to raise the national debt, not have progressives cave in. i think we can get the relief for the middle class that we desperately need, no argument there, and extend tax breaks for the middle class, which we have got to do. you can do this without giving tax breaks to people who don't need it. that is the right. >> is the president losing the base on this issue?