0 cost jobs and hurt minorities and young people. show me the numbers. they don't exist. harkin hit the nail right on the head. earlier today, harkin gave a passionate senate floor speech on passing the minimum wage. >> working people have to turn to the safety net for food stamps and all other kinds of things just to help them get by. a recent study found that our taxpayers have to pick up the tab for millions of working families to the tune of about $240 billion a year. these are people who work, but they're making minimum wage. >> isn't it interesting that one lawmaker in the house just throws this stuff out, but the other gentleman over in the senate who has the bill to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, which the president referenced last night, he comes out with numbers. you see facts matter. and numbers don't lie. the current minimum wage is corporate welfare to the tune of $240 billion a year. it's no wonder republicans want to keep the minimum wage so low. it helps the corporations that line their pockets to win their reelection. another part of the president's speech was extending unemployment insurance. last night the president made a heated case for congress to help the long-term unemployed. >> this congress needs to restore the unemployment insurance that you just let expire for 1.6 million people. they need our help right now, but more important this country needs them in the game. >> we need them in the game. it is never easy for the long-term unemployed to go find a job. these folks out there looking and looking and looking. the president knows this and just went to the business owners and asked them to help out. >> i've been asking business owners to give them a new shot. many will come to the white house to make that commitment real. tonight i ask every business leader in america to join us and do the same because we are stronger when america feels a full team. >> there's no reason congress can't extend unemployment and raise the minimum wage. the american people want it done. democrats want it done. the president will sign it. once again, the republicans are standing in the way. the president told republicans why don't you join the rest of the country and give americans a raise. there's a bill that will lift the minimum wage to $10.10. this will help families. it'll get businesses customers with more money to spend. it does not involve any new bureaucratic program. so join the rest of the country, say yes. give america a raise. give them a raise. >> it's clear where americans stand on this issue. what's not clear is where the republicans stand. every year the republican response to the state of the union is just a total mess. this year was no different. no less than four republicans competing for the air time. [ speaking simultaneously ] >> did you understand any of that? i sure didn't. they did not respond in the chamber to climate change, immigration, unemployment, and on women's issues. they have no ideas or solutions. all republicans do is obstruct and the president did a great job of calling them out last night in the way he does it. this was a very hard speech to counter. that's why they needed four or are there that many factions and splits many the republican party? i guess so. the president did it in a nice way. he did a great job of boxing the republicans in. republicans are in the corner right now. they're against the american people. and it was laid out last night in the state of the union. i think it is kind of hard for anybody to give a speech five years in a row and impress everybody, but last night i thought the president did as good as he could have done. the american people are staring the republicans in the eye asking the question, what would it take for you as a party to think that it's important for women to have a fair shot in the workplace? tell us, what conditions? rainy conditions on the golf course. do you want shorter fairways? what is it? come on. talk about it over a round of golf. tell us what do women have to do in this country to get equal in the workplace? get your cell phones out. tonight's question -- did president obama corner republicans with last night's address? text a for yes. text b for no. you can always go to our blog. we'll bring you the results later on in the show. let me bring in the congressman from south carolina. i appreciate your time. >> thank you so much for having me, ed. >> did the president put republicans right where they needed to be in a very classy manner? there was no arrogance whatsoever. it was stating the facts. what were you expectations going in and the aftermath, how do you feel about it? >> going into this speech, i must admit that i was a bit anxious about it. i felt sure that the president was up to the task, but i was not too sure of how receptive the body would be there within the halls or even how the public would be outside. but i have been pleasantly surprised that the president's optimism shown through. he laid out a great opportunity agenda for the american people, and he enunciated for all of us the actions he is willing to take in order to get us to where we need to be. opportunity, action, optimism exuded throughout that entire speech. i came away very pleased with the president's presentation. i'm ecstatic over the way the american people have responded to him. that is not to say that my republican friends are going to be happy with all of this. but i think the president is right where 78, 80 and in some instances 90% of the american people are. 90% of american people want to raise the minimum wage. i think over 80% of the american people think we ought to do unemployment insurance. so when you look at the president's speech and you look at all the surveys done about where the american people are, the president is in sync with the vast majority of american people. >> congressman, paul ryan, we played his sound byte. if the things he's saying are true, he hasn't backed them up with any numbers. there's this theory it will hurt young people and hurt minorities and it is a job killer. is it time for the democrats to demand proof on these issues even further? >> oh, yes. absolutely. tom harkin on the floor of the senate. we have laid out proof positive as to what happens when you raise the minimum wage. we can see what is happening when you don't. worke workers morale low. those paying taxes, we have to supplement wage earners because the minimum wage has not kept up with inflation. if it did, the current minimum wage would be somewhere around $10.60 an hour or north of it. we know that. we need to raise the minimum wage. we need to index it so we won't have the same argument every year. >> last night, the president spoke about sergeant corey rimsburg. he did ten tours of duty. got hit by an iud and had a very tough recovery and is still recovering. look at this guy. he has sacrificed for america. do you think you're doing everything you can for the american people? that's what i took out of it. what did you take from that? >> i did. i think the president was masterful last night in identifying as you said earlier who -- the people who are doing what needs to be done, highlighting them, rather than spending a whole lot of time on people who are not doing what people should do. that's what optimism is all about. the president had a very emotional connection with the american people as well as our men and women in uniform. and i thank him so much for doing that. >> that was a very emotional moment last night. great to have you with us tonight. >> thank you so much. coming up, talk about a cold front. a young man learns not to mess with a meteorologist. plus, republican ideas on gender equity are a blast from the past. and what was not in the speech last night. then, a way to support heart health. ♪ and let's not forget immune support. ♪ but now i have new glucerna advance with three benefits in one. including carbsteady ultra to help minimize blood sugar spikes. it's the best from glucerna. 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