0 thanks for watching. warning, here we go. it's the beginning of the big cave. that's what i think. today, president obama met with senate democrats, all part of the latest effort to reach a grand bargain. where was the during the election, this big conversation, hey, we have to get this grand bargain with these republicans. this is why you have to vote for me. i've got to have this grand bargain. we go to war, we don't pay. we do big pharma, we don't pay. tax cuts, we don't figure what it's going to do to the economy, but you, you might have to pay for it. there is one senator prepared to filibuster to protect social security, medicare and medicaid. senator bernie sanders will join me in a moment, but president obama, he went to capitol hill today for a closed door meeting with the democrats. senate budget chairwoman patty murray, she revealed a plan with new revenue and spending cuts. nearly $1 trillion over the next ten years. president obama will meet with do you want bernie sanders, the senator, independent from vermont, to filibuster to protect the big three? text a for yes. b for no to 67622. you can go to our blog and we'll bring you the results later in the show. i'm already starting to get the feeling i've got a very unpopular position here that we should protect the big three at all costs because that's what this election was all about. it's about making the wealthiest americans pay more, but to get them to pay more, we have to cut into the middle class and elderly who didn't cause these financial problems. i don't buy it. joining me now is senator bernie sanders of vermont. good to have you with us tonight. the question of the hour, are you prepared to filibuster if it goes to the big three? >> well, i am prepared to work with other progressives to do everything we can to make sure that the budget is not balanced on a collapsing middle class and on 46 million people who are living poverty and on many elderly people who are barely keeping their heads above water economically. look, ed, the position that you and i have talked about forever is the position that the vast majority of the american people support. they understand large corporations are seeing record breaking profits and yet, one out of four profitable corporations pays zero in taxes. losing $100 billion a year from these corporations and wealthy individuals offshoring their profits in the cayman islands and bermuda. do you think there's any state where people would want to cut medicare, medicaid or close those loopholes? >> what you're saying the basic stuff. where's the president? why would he consider this? >> well, we chatted about that a little this afternoon. on top of that, you got every senior organization, aflcio, every veteran's organization. you got the national organization of women saying do not go for a chain cpi, which will make devastating cuts, not just on seniors who are on social security, ed, let's not forget and i speak as chairman of the veterans committee disabled vets. do you want a cut benefits for disabled vets, men and women who have lost their legs in iraq, i don't think we do. >> do you think democrats will mount the charge and send a strong message and generate support across the country to stop this? >> well, i am going to do everything i can. we have a new petition up on our website. i'm prepared to go around the country to raise the issue that the vast majority of the people support. >> okay. what about medicare means testing? >> i don't agree with that. i'll tell you why. it's easy to say warren buffett doesn't need medicare. once you're into that, your right wing republicans will do away with the universality of medicare and make it into a welfare program or voucherize. i think we do best when we progressively pay for these programs rather than have cuts in there for wealthier people. >> senator bernie sanders, you feel like a lot of people in this country are counting on you. this election was not about going after the big three. this was not about that anywhere in any democratic circles. it pains me to say it, but president obama really could be the president to start the undoing of the new deal? >> we've all got to work together to make sure that does not happen. >> thanks so much. let's turn now to congresswoman maxine waters of california and joseph crowley of new york. maxine, your reaction to what you heard today? >> first of all, let me just say this. that bernie sanders is somebody we can count on. i've worked with him over here on the house side. he's a good progressive and i know he'll stand up for seniors. he will be fighting to make sure that we do not decimate medicaid or we do thot change medicare as we know it and protect our seniors are social security and i stand with him and others who have signed on to petition. who have made it very, very clear. we're not going for any cuts or any changes. these are the most vulnerable people in our society. and they deserve to have our support and all of the polls. say that they do not want us to have chained cpi. they don't want us to have vouchers, they don't want us to block -- >> the president seems to think he has to give some of that up to get revenue. is it worth it? >> i know that negotiations take place, but this president was re-elected by the people because they have faith in him. that he will stand up, not only for the least of these, but stand up for what is right. we know this old budget that ryan has put out is the same old budget that he had last year. it has not changed and it does the same thing. it decimates medicaid. it undermines medicare and of course, we don't want the president offering up a chained cpi for social security when that's not even in ryan budget. >> congressman crowley, you heard chris van hollen. his analysis is there is no wiggle room at all in this budget. if that's going to be the blueprint for the republicans in the house, how's this going to end up? >> i think it's interesting. it's as if the election never took place. we have a regurgitation, a few changes here and there. but you know, i want to remind mr. ryan and the republican party that the american people rejected a similar budget in that last election. the state of wisconsin, paul ryan's home state, rejected that budget. his hometown rejected that budget when they supported the president. so, i think we have to stop you know, these shenanigans. >> but congressman, we need to get to a deal and the fundamentals of the deal is that the president wants a grand bargain. he's not going to get a grand bargain unless he chips away at the very things that the american people want him to protect. >> ed, a budget is about not only numbers, a budget is about a vision for america. and the republicans continue to not have a vision. there's not a mention of jobs. maybe outside the preamble of this budget. there's nothing about job growth and that's what the american people are desperate for. they see the stock market at 14,500 points. yet, it doesn't reflect itself in job growth in this country. people are out of work. they want to know what this government is doing for them to get them back to work. >> congresswoman waters, could the congressional black caucus send a strong message to president obama that he's in dangerous waters dealing with the republicans? >> many of the members have signed on to letters and petitions that basically says to the president do not block medicaid, do not turn medicare into a voucher program. do not mess with social security. we're very clear for the most part. we represents constituencies that have been very clear with us. they have not only petitioned us and urged us to fight for them, but this is what we do. this is why we're here. this is why they sent us here. to stand up for them and so, our message to the president and everybody else is very, very clear. >> here's paul ryan plan basically lip service to the needs of the poor. here it is. >> but the people who a debt crisis hurts the most are the poor, the elderly, the people who need government the most. >> quickly. congressman crowley. >> it's interesting to hear him trying to protect the poor. what i would suggest and i think maxine would agree as would bernny. it was the democratic party, congress, president, that created the big three. and it will be a democratic congress and president that will protect the big three. i'm convinced of that. >> absolutely. >> okay. >> absolutely. >> great to have you with us tonight. appreciate having you both on. thanks so much. remember to answer tonight's question at the bottom of the screen. share your thoughts on twitter and facebook. we're always looking for your comments. tonight, i have a major announcement about a story that will have this country talking for days to come. stick around. 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