that the pentagon ship tanks to this event. that is one of two abrams tanks brought here to the lincoln memorial from ft. stewart, georgia. this is the first time tanks are apart of the fourth of july event here in d.c. the white house won't put a price tag on the festivities. the president says, whatever it is, it will be worth it. his opponents don't buy it. >> i'm not quite sure that we need money to go into putting tanks in downtown washington, d.c. >> it is just absolute misplaced. he thinks these things are toys. >> i think, you know, reducing our nation to tanks and shows of muscle just makes us look like the kind of loud mouth guy at the bar. >> reporter: in iowa, joe biden dismissing white house claims that this event is about patriotism, not politics. >> and an event, designed more to stroke his ego than celebrate american ideals. >> reporter: but here on the mall, people seeing it differently. >> his heart is for our country and is for the people and for the military. so, i think deep down, his heart is in a good place. >> cecilia, the white house handed out v.i.p. tickets to the