session. so for president obama actually to give this press conference today was helpful for republicans because it puts it in the rear-view mirror so when they get to capitol hill on monday, they can move forward with these other pressing issues that they know is what the american people care about. they have to win independents. they don't need to win birthers. >> you say it's been a loser issue. i'm curious. how long has it been a loser issue because none of the republican leadership has viewed it that way. and also, what about the birther bill that's in the house being brought up by a dozen republicans? i mean, it seems like the republicans have just been wallowing in this, that they really kind of love watching this spat going back and forth. >> well, the very first republican to encounter this issue, john mccain when he was running against president, then senator obama. he investigated the birther issue. he had a lawyer on it. i am very close to this lawyer. i know him very well. he investigated, got down to the bottom of it and they were