Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
Gore Endorsement of Dean a Change in Democratic Party Politics
Aired December 09, 2003 - 10:20 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(AUDIO/VIDEO GAP)
AL GORE, FRM. VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... really is the only candidate who has been able to inspire at the grass roots level all over this country the kind of fashion and enthusiasm for democracy and change and transformation of America that we need in this country. We need to remake the Democratic Party. We need to remake America. We need to take it back on behalf of the people of this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SENIOR ANALYST: That's interesting, because here have you a guy who when he ran was supported by virtually the entire Democratic Party establishment saying not only did Howard Dean get a grassroots campaign going but we have to remake the Democratic Party. That's kind of an outsider message.
The second point Gore made -- and here I think the use of his language, the force of it, the tone of it is (UNINTELLIGIBLE) substance was, the very fact Howard Dean did not support the war in Iraq which all the other major Democratic Party candidates did. Listen to what he said and how he says it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORE: He was the only major candidate who made the correct judgment about the Iraq war. And he had the insight and the courage to say and do the right thing. And that's important because those judgments that basic common sense is what you want in a president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GREENFIELD: So in this case, what you have is the vice president -- who, by the way, was one of the more hawkish voices in the Clinton administration, who was one of the only ten Democratic senators back in 1991 to back the first Gulf War, along with Joe Lieberman his running mate -- saying, in effect -- taking a kind of swipe at the other candidates, saying, Yes they were all in the Senate or House, they all had more experience. But he was the only guy to get it right.
So I think, Ms. Kagan, you find here an Al Gore who seems to be remaking himself as much less of an insider than the Al Gore we saw in 2000. DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about loyalty for a moment here, Mr. Greenfield. What about the dis on Joe Lieberman, the man who said he wasn't going even to announce his candidacy (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to Al Gore until the former vice president decided what his political plans were.
GREENFIELD: That point is exactly the point that a clearly wounded Senator Lieberman made in his statement responding to the endorsement. He said, You know, I have great respect for Al Gore and then he added, And that's why I decided to defer my decision until I found out what Al Gore was going to do.
Yes, the fact that Al Gore did not even bother to call his one- time running mate and say, Joe, I appreciate in all the support, your help when ways making up my mind. But I decided to go for another guy.
This to be candid with you is a problem Al Gore has had in the past in his relations with other politicians. There is a kind of reputation that he has earned over the years for not necessarily being the most graceful of diplomats in dealing with his fellow Democrats.
KAGAN: And then finally getting to the point of insider vs. outsider politics. In the end does this really help Howard Dean, a man, as we pointed out, has built his popularity, at least nationwide, on being the outsider? Do you want to be associated with a guy who's the inside guy?
GREENFIELD: Well, you know, I went on Howard Dean's Web site yesterday to see what the comments were of the Dean supporters or the Deaniacs, as they call themselves, and there was a great party going on on his Web site. But there was one person who wrote in and said, Gee, I'm not sure I really like this.
Look, it is a primary in which one of Howard Dean's biggest challenges has been to convince part of the Democratic base that doesn't know him, that sees him as the next governor of a rural, small state that he is a real Democrat. He understands African-Americans, trade union movements, big cities.
And the fact that Al Gore, who did, after all, get more votes for president than anybody else in American history except Ronald Reagan, and who Democrats will keep reminding did win the popular vote, last time, the fact he has thrown his arm around Howard Dean, I think is a help. And I think the insider thing doesn't really hurt him at all in this race.
Now, will I change my mind in three months if it turns out I'm wrong? You bet I will and you'll hear it here first.
KAGAN: Well, we'll only call you Al Gore, if you do change your loyalty. Jeff Greenfield, thank you for that. Appreciate your time and your insight as always.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Politics>
Aired December 9, 2003 - 10:20 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(AUDIO/VIDEO GAP)
AL GORE, FRM. VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... really is the only candidate who has been able to inspire at the grass roots level all over this country the kind of fashion and enthusiasm for democracy and change and transformation of America that we need in this country. We need to remake the Democratic Party. We need to remake America. We need to take it back on behalf of the people of this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SENIOR ANALYST: That's interesting, because here have you a guy who when he ran was supported by virtually the entire Democratic Party establishment saying not only did Howard Dean get a grassroots campaign going but we have to remake the Democratic Party. That's kind of an outsider message.
The second point Gore made -- and here I think the use of his language, the force of it, the tone of it is (UNINTELLIGIBLE) substance was, the very fact Howard Dean did not support the war in Iraq which all the other major Democratic Party candidates did. Listen to what he said and how he says it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORE: He was the only major candidate who made the correct judgment about the Iraq war. And he had the insight and the courage to say and do the right thing. And that's important because those judgments that basic common sense is what you want in a president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GREENFIELD: So in this case, what you have is the vice president -- who, by the way, was one of the more hawkish voices in the Clinton administration, who was one of the only ten Democratic senators back in 1991 to back the first Gulf War, along with Joe Lieberman his running mate -- saying, in effect -- taking a kind of swipe at the other candidates, saying, Yes they were all in the Senate or House, they all had more experience. But he was the only guy to get it right.
So I think, Ms. Kagan, you find here an Al Gore who seems to be remaking himself as much less of an insider than the Al Gore we saw in 2000. DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about loyalty for a moment here, Mr. Greenfield. What about the dis on Joe Lieberman, the man who said he wasn't going even to announce his candidacy (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to Al Gore until the former vice president decided what his political plans were.
GREENFIELD: That point is exactly the point that a clearly wounded Senator Lieberman made in his statement responding to the endorsement. He said, You know, I have great respect for Al Gore and then he added, And that's why I decided to defer my decision until I found out what Al Gore was going to do.
Yes, the fact that Al Gore did not even bother to call his one- time running mate and say, Joe, I appreciate in all the support, your help when ways making up my mind. But I decided to go for another guy.
This to be candid with you is a problem Al Gore has had in the past in his relations with other politicians. There is a kind of reputation that he has earned over the years for not necessarily being the most graceful of diplomats in dealing with his fellow Democrats.
KAGAN: And then finally getting to the point of insider vs. outsider politics. In the end does this really help Howard Dean, a man, as we pointed out, has built his popularity, at least nationwide, on being the outsider? Do you want to be associated with a guy who's the inside guy?
GREENFIELD: Well, you know, I went on Howard Dean's Web site yesterday to see what the comments were of the Dean supporters or the Deaniacs, as they call themselves, and there was a great party going on on his Web site. But there was one person who wrote in and said, Gee, I'm not sure I really like this.
Look, it is a primary in which one of Howard Dean's biggest challenges has been to convince part of the Democratic base that doesn't know him, that sees him as the next governor of a rural, small state that he is a real Democrat. He understands African-Americans, trade union movements, big cities.
And the fact that Al Gore, who did, after all, get more votes for president than anybody else in American history except Ronald Reagan, and who Democrats will keep reminding did win the popular vote, last time, the fact he has thrown his arm around Howard Dean, I think is a help. And I think the insider thing doesn't really hurt him at all in this race.
Now, will I change my mind in three months if it turns out I'm wrong? You bet I will and you'll hear it here first.
KAGAN: Well, we'll only call you Al Gore, if you do change your loyalty. Jeff Greenfield, thank you for that. Appreciate your time and your insight as always.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Politics>