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American Morning
Barack Obama Making History; Hillary Clinton Not Conceding Just Yet; Barack Obama Versus John McCain
Aired June 04, 2008 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
REP. CHARLIE RANGEL, CLINTON SUPPORTER: But there are some people in certain congressional districts that will not respond to him just because of his color. And of course, most of them will not be in the Democratic Party. And so we have to reach out and make certain that this election as president of the United States not only brings us together as Democrats but brings us together as a nation.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And quickly, because we have to go. If Hillary Clinton indeed takes on that VP spot, will that unite the party? Is that the answer?
RANGEL: Well, it's one of the answers, because it's probably a lot of her supporters that are still broken hearted. But if they see that her candidacy is treated with respect and that we're going to have one ticket -- you know, the Obama-Clinton ticket, I think that would bring us together like no other political incentive.
PHILLIPS: And you talked about --
RANGEL: I'm excited about it.
PHILLIPS: Talked about history -- double, double. Representative Charlie Rangel, thanks for your time this morning. Good to see you.
John?
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Just crossing the top of the hour now, Kyra. For more on this whole idea of Hillary Clinton as the running mate and the dream team and whether or not it's a possibility, let's bring in CNN Suzanne Malveaux.
So, now we got the Bob Johnson letter to Congressman James Clyburn, the Minority Whip, urging him to pressure the Obama campaign to take her on as a running mate. What's the Obama campaign saying about all of this?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: They're talking to the Obama folks and they're like stop -- stop already. Give us some time to digest this. He just became the nominee. They say give us some days, even, just some breathing space. It has not been helpful.
Most people are looking at this and saying this pressure is not going to help. And pre-empting the whole process that they have in place here to vet these candidates, it's not going to move the ball further. It's not helping her case at all.
ROBERTS: We remember back in 2004 when the Edwards campaign was pressuring the Kerry campaign quite effectively to take him on as the running mate. And eventually, he did and it's almost like he had no choice. Similar process here?
MALVEAUX: Well, they're going to take if not weeks. I mean, they're talking about July and August here. So they're going to take their time on this. That they're not going to rush this through. They're obviously looking for a way to meet with Senator Clinton at a time and a place of her choosing. But to sit down and basically find out what kind of role does she want to play.
If it's not the vice presidential role, what kind of role can she play to help the party but it's not necessarily going to be the number two spot.
ROBERTS: What about the idea that it's Bob Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, who is pushing this idea? Remember back to the early stage of this primary campaign, he said some rather intemperate things about Barack Obama, for which he had to apologize -- saying that Hillary Clinton was out there fighting while he was doing who knows what in the neighborhood.
A lot of people thought that was an allusion to his past drug use. Also likened him to Sidney Poitier, in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner."
MALVEAUX: He's a controversial figure. There are mixed feelings about him within the Congressional Black Caucus. Obviously there were lots of people who are angry and offended. He occasionally is kind of a freelance agent, if you will, for Senator Clinton. And so it's not clear whether or not he's really the best surrogate in terms of reaching out to that particular group.
But one thing you should know, and we do know, is that he does have a lot of money and he spends the money, uses the money for causes. That's very important to some of those members of Congress.
ROBERTS: And in politics, money talks. Suzanne, thanks.
MALVEAUX: Sure.
ROBERTS: Kyra?
PHILLIPS: As Barack Obama declares victory, there are still challenges that he has yet to overcome, including how to unify a party deeply divided by demographics.
Well, last night, he tried to bridge those differences by praising his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Senator Hillary Clinton has made history in this campaign. (APPLAUSE)
She has made history not just because she's a woman who has done what no woman has done before, but because she is a leader who inspires millions of Americans with her strength, her courage, and her commitment to the causes that brought us here tonight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, Obama went on to say that the party and country is better off because of Clinton.
Clinton still hasn't conceded though. Obama has turned the page and squared off against John McCain.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: It's not change when John McCain decided to stand with George Bush 95 percent of the time as he did in the Senate last year. It's not change when he offers four more years of Bush economic policies that have failed to create well-paying jobs. It's not change when he promises to continue a policy in Iraq that asks everything of our brave men and women in uniform and nothing of Iraqi politicians.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No matter who wins this election, the direction of this country is going to change dramatically. But the choice is between the right change and the wrong change, between going forward and going backward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: McCain also praised Clinton saying that as a father of three daughters, he owes her a debt for inspiring millions of women to believe no opportunity is beyond the reach.
ROBERTS: Five minutes after the hour. The conventions are the next big event. A look at what is coming up in your "A.M. Extra." The Democrats are at the Pepsi Center in Denver. They meet from August the 25th through August the 28th. Denver also hosted the convention. But you got to go way back to find out the last time it was 1908.
The Republicans meet in Minneapolis St. Paul. They're going to be at the Xcel Energy Center from September the 1st through the 4th. That's where Barack Obama gave his speech last. And that just leaves 60 days before the election in November.
Barack Obama speaking live in Washington at this hour. He'll be addressing the AIPAC Pro-Israeli Conference. And is expected to talk about ending the war with Iraq. We'll take you there live at 8:45 this morning.
PHILLIPS: Barack Obama makes history by becoming the first African-American from a major party to clinch the presidential nomination. Now the real hard work begins. We're going to talk about what lies ahead on the campaign trail for Obama with legendary African-American politician Willie Brown.
Plus, how will the race shape up against the presumptive Republican nominee John McCain? We're going to talk about that with Louisiana governor and McCain supporter Bobby Jindal.
ROBERTS: And can Obama unify a badly bruised party after a fight that stretched far longer than anyone imagined? We'll ask Pennsylvania governor and Clinton supporter Ed Rendell. That's all ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Nine minutes after the hour. We're back with our political panel this morning. You heard what Terry McAuliffe had to say a little while ago. He said it was Hillary Clinton's night last night.
Liz, you're an Obama supporter. What do you say about that?
LIZ CHADDERDON, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I got to tell you, John, I was absolutely flabbergasted. I mean, my jaw hit the table over here. How can it be Hillary Clinton's night? She lost.
I mean, last night, Barack Obama became the Democratic nominee. That's undisputed at this point. And he gave a rock star -- hit it out of the park speech. Hers was good. His was better. In front of 20,000 screaming people. It was more like a rock concert than it was a political --
ROBERTS: But where do you draw the --
CHADDERDON: I mean, how could it be her night? That's crazy.
ROBERTS: But where do you draw the line here, though? Because she had a historic candidacy as well and an incredibly well-fought race.
JULIAN EPSTEIN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Yes. Look, there was no question as a Hillary Clinton supporter -- there's no question that it was Barack Obama's night. He won a historic race and gave a beautiful speech about the country, not about him, but about the country.
Hillary Clinton did have an amazing achievement. 18 million voters, more voters than any Democratic -- than any primary candidate ever in the history. So, it was a magnificent night I think for Democrats, too. So I think Democrats come out last night looking to November. Very optimistically.
JOHN AVLON, AUTHOR, "INDEPENDENT NATION": But let's keep our eye on the ball. I mean, politics is history in the present tense and never more so that today. Barack Obama, third African-American senator since reconstruction, gaining the Democratic nomination. This comes, you know, today -- 40 years ago today, Bobby Kennedy won California and then was assassinated.
And Barack Obama has inspired and united people in a way that was reminiscent of Bobby Kennedy. This is a historic day. It's a historic American morning and it's Barack Obama's.
LESLIE SANCHEZ, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, just let me add this part. It's an important day and an important morning. A lot of people are seeing this. Also keep in mind about a third of the voters who are going to vote in November have not even engaged. They've been in the sidelines watching this.
We do this everyday, 24 hours a day. But they're just waking up to say, OK, Barack Obama is going to be the candidate. Now is the time we begin the very stark contrast with Senator McCain's experience. You can talk a lot about experience, leadership, strength. And then, Barack Obama, they're going to peel away that veneer of, you know, him wanting to be everything to everybody, and so he wants to raise taxes, make it more difficult on our economy and doesn't really have a plan and solution for Iraq. So, it's a very good fight to have.
ROBERTS: I'm not quite sure what you've done with your microphone but you've lost it somewhere. So why don't we go over here.
SANCHEZ: I'm so sorry.
ROBERTS: Why don't we go over here to Liz and Julian for a second while you try to find it, because I want to ask you more about John McCain?
So we talked about Hillary Clinton as a running mate. That's been one of the conversations of the morning. And if not Hillary Clinton, then who?
AVLON: Well, I think, first of all, Leslie losing her microphone is a metaphor for Republicans having lost their voice.
(CROSSTALK)
AVLON: Well, hopefully John McCain --
SANCHEZ: And with that point, I'm happy to refuse --
(CROSSTALK)
AVLON: Hopefully John McCain will has better lines.
(CROSSTALK)
ROBERTS: We did hear you.
(CROSSTALK)
ROBERTS: But if not, if not --
EPSTEIN: Look, I think Hillary Clinton has the best case for vice president, even though she should not be engaging in a public campaign. This has got to be Barack Obama's decision, but she can bring more states than anybody else. If not Hillary Clinton, I think Senator Webb, as we were discussing before is an excellent candidate. I think Governor Cane is an excellent candidate -- governor of Ohio, governor of Kansas. There are a lot of good choices. (INAUDIBLE) for them.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: But some people who might have experience and actually some credentials, which is not something you're going to see with Barack Obama.
ROBERTS: We've got to run but we can come back and talk more about John McCain because we want to give you some coverage.
All right, folks. Thanks.
Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Well, happening right now. Tens of thousands of people gathering to mark the anniversary of the violent Tiananmen Square crackdown. Here's the live pictures showing the crowds there. They are gathering for a candlelight vigil in Hong Kong's Victoria Park, the only memorial held on Chinese soil, by the way. And it was 19 years ago today that those pro-Democracy students protested in Beijing.
Barack Obama versus John McCain, the general election race starts in full. We're talking about it with Louisiana governor and McCain supporter Bobby Jindal, right here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: As you know, it's been quite a historic night. Barack Obama on his way to the White House. Hillary Clinton still not conceding, though. It was interesting to watch all the speeches last night and the tones of those speeches. The way Barack Obama came off, Hillary Clinton, and specifically John McCain. What is next for him? How does he proceed from here? How is he responding to all the attention given to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton last night?
Let's talk with McCain supporter and also Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. Also talks that he may be the man on the ticket with John McCain. First of all, your reaction to last night, governor. The tone of these speeches. Everybody talking about Barack Obama making history. He sounded like Martin Luther King. He rallied up the crowds.
And John McCain, on the other hand, critics saying -- wow, what a deflated speech.
GOV. BOBBY JINDAL (R), LOUISIANA: Good morning. Well, you know -- certainly, let's give Senator Obama his due. He certainly speaks better than any elected official, any politician I've ever heard. I think this will be a good election for America. You've got two candidates that represent change with very different policies, very different perspectives. There's a real choice for the voters. Senator Obama talks very, very well about change that Senator McCain, the difference is he's actually spent his career delivering change. He's fought against earmarks, wasteful spending, fought to defend our country. Even when he had to stand alone against the special interests, people forget. He was sometimes a lonely fighting when he fought against earmarks and pork barrel spending. Even opposing it within his own party. So I think it's a good contrast.
Senator Obama clearly is a great speaker. I think we're entering the phase of the election where the voters are going to ask where's the beef? What's the substance? Let's get beyond the speeches. Let's look at the details.
PHILLIPS: Everybody talking about how historic this is. And truly, Americans are responding to that. They are responding to the first African-American candidate. They're responding to the first female running for president. You were the first Indian-American to become governor.
So, it seems that the voters are speaking and saying it's time for change. You've made inroads historically. Do you support that?
JINDAL: Well, look, I think it shows what a great country this is. My father is one of nine kids, the only one who got past the fifth grade. And he would also tell me every day of my life how this is the greatest country in the world. And being born and raised here, you take that for granted. It is a great country where if you work hard, get an education, there's no limit on what you can do. Not just in politics, but in business and every other facet of life. And it's an amazing thing about America that the American dream is alive and well.
I think a lot is made about identity politics. (INAUDIBLE) is when we elect the president of the United States. It's certainly great that we've got all these different candidates with these great biographies. Senator McCain is a war hero. Senator Obama is clearly an amazing speaker and the first in many different ways.
But I think voters, at the end of the day, vote for the candidate they think has got the best experience, the best qualifications, and best ideas. And they feel will do the best job leading our country forward.
PHILLIPS: And Obama had no problem taking a few swipes at John McCain last night as well. Let's take a listen. I want you to be able to respond.
JINDAL: Sure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: John McCain has spent a lot of time talking about trips to Iraq. Maybe if he spent some time taking trips to the cities and towns that have been hardest hit by this economy, he'd understand the kind of change that people are looking for.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Now, he talks about cities hardest hit here in the United States. I mean, your state was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina. And the Bush administration has been accused of mishandling that in a number of ways. Has John McCain said to you -- this is what I'm going to do to help rebuild New Orleans and other parts of your state?
JINDAL: Absolutely. He's in the middle of his fourth visit down here in the last few months. He has specifically committed to rebuilding the wetlands, the levees, helping escape category five protections. He's made it clear that the country must stop funding pork barrel projects like the bridges to nowhere and fund adequate levees and cause a restoration.
He came down to Lower Ninth Ward in April and stood up there and said never again. He's been very explicit, very specific about how the government's response was inadequate. Even last night talked about the fact that as a country, we've got to be able to get bottled water to infants. We've got to be able to get food and medical supplies to families.
It's simply unacceptable what happened in 2005 that under a President McCain, you'd have a much more robust emergency response not only for hurricanes but inoperable communications for many made and other natural disasters. He's been down here or at least four times in the last few months, and every time he's come down, he's offered specific solutions for our state.
PHILLIPS: And governor, we've got to go. But I've got to get a yes or no. You're a contender for the VP spot. If John McCain asks you, will you say yes?
JINDAL: He's not going to ask me. I've got the job that I want. But I am supporting Senator McCain. He's going to be a great president for our country. He's the candidate that's delivered change.
PHILLIPS: Governor Bobby Jindal, Louisiana. Thanks for your time.
JINDAL: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: John?
ROBERTS: 21 minutes after the hour. You are watching the "Most News in the Morning." Supporters of Hillary Clinton this morning pushing to have her put on the ticket with Barack Obama. The campaign to be number two. More on that ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
Plus, Barack Obama speaking live in just over 20 minutes to Jewish voters in Washington. You can watch it right here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: It's 24 minutes after the hour. Senator Hillary Clinton is not conceding just yet or suspending her campaign. Didn't say when she would. Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is a Hillary Clinton supporter and he joins us now.
Last night, governor, we saw all of these super delegates who had pledged for Hillary Clinton going to Barack Obama. Are you going to stick with her, or will you pledge to support him?
GOV. ED RENDELL (D) PENNSYLVANIA: I said I would be the last of the Mohicans so I'm going to stick with Senator Clinton. But I have no trouble supporting Barack Obama. I've said all along in this campaign, we have two terrific candidates.
I thought Hillary Clinton would be the better candidate in the fall. And I think the last three months of primaries clearly showed that. And I thought she'd be the better president. But Barack Obama will be a good candidate and he'll be a fine president.
ROBERTS: Well, I wanted to ask you about that, because you have said repeatedly that she is the stronger candidate. She is the one who is in better position.
RENDELL: (INAUDIBLE).
ROBERTS: Do you still believe that?
RENDELL: Look at South Dakota.
ROBERTS: Do you still believe that? Is this a secondary to your candidate now?
RENDELL: No, no. He's a fine, fine candidate. But Hillary Clinton -- I mean, you know, found her voice. In Ohio and Texas, she began to have fun, loosen up, talk to the American people about the things she wanted to do, and she became their champion. All throughout Pennsylvania when I campaigned with her, I saw ordinary working folks, working women, women who stayed at home, people who two years ago you would have said Hillary Clinton would have trouble with flocking to her banner.
In the last three months, she got 55 percent of the total Democratic vote cast winning South Dakota. It's Tom Daschle's home state and he's the co-chair of the Obama campaign.
ROBERTS: So not from a personal level but from a party level. Are you disappointed with the choice of the presumed candidate?
RENDELL: I am excited about Barack Obama's candidacy. But I think Hillary Clinton would have been a stronger candidate. And it's so important that we change the White House. And from that standpoint, I'm a little wary.
ROBERTS: So are people going to be saying that all the way through November? Well, you know, this has been a concern about him taking her as his running mate. Will she always be looking over his shoulder? Will people always be saying "If only"? RENDELL: No, I don't think so. An interesting thing happened to me. Look, I am the last of the Mohicans, but it is over. I mean, I don't think Hillary Clinton is going to contest all the way to Denver.
I think, very soon, she's going to do the right thing and get behind the party, get behind Senator Obama, whether she's vice president or not. She's going to work very hard for this ticket. She believes in the issues she talked about. But once the presidential election starts, once it's Obama-McCain, people will forget about the past.
ROBERTS: The big challenge is bringing the disparate factions of the party together. You've been involved in some of these meetings about money, about bringing people together. When it comes to money, you've met with the Barack Obama people. We're talking about retiring Hillary Clinton's debt here. You're talking about fund-raising for the fall?
RENDELL: Well, I think Senator Obama's probably the most prolific fundraiser ever in this country. He can do it without attending fundraisers, which take the time of a candidate.
ROBERTS: So is he going to pay off her debt?
RENDELL: I think he may have fundraisers for her. He can't write her a check or anything like that. But he may do some of that. And by the way, it's our obligation. I helped pay off the debt of my primary opponents in the past and the winning candidate sort of always shoulders that burden because he or she wants to unify the party. There's nothing unusual about that.
But I think we're going to look to the fall as a party. And Senator Obama is an exciting candidate. He's smart as a whip. I think he's got the backbone and the courage to lead this country. He's got some work to do, though. There's no question. I mean, look at the results of the last three months. You can't deny that.
ROBERTS: A lot of news yet to be made. Governor Rendell, it's great to see you. Thanks for coming in this morning.
Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Senator John McCain is taking a swipe at Barack Obama and at the same time McCain used his speech last night to distance himself from President Bush on Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCAIN: I strongly disagreed with the Bush administration's mismanagement of the war in Iraq. I called for the change in strategy that is now, at last, succeeding where the previous strategy had failed miserably.
(APPLAUSE)
I was criticized for doing so by Republicans. I was criticized by Democrats. I was criticized by the press. But I don't answer to them. I answer to you. Senator Obama opposed the new strategy. And after promising not to, voted to deny funds to the soldiers who have done a brilliant and brave job of carrying it out.
Yet, in the last year, we have seen the success of that plan. As violence has fallen to a four-year low, Sunni insurgents have joined us in the fight against al Qaeda. The Iraqi Army has taken the lead in places once lost to Sunni and Shiite extremists. And the Iraqi government has begun to make progress toward political reconciliation.
None of this progress would have happened had we not changed course over a year ago. All of this progress would be lost if Senator Obama had his way and begun to withdraw our forces from Iraq without concern for conditions on the ground and the advice of commanders in the field.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: And McCain added that unlike him, Obama hasn't been willing to challenge his party and risk criticism to bring change to Washington. As for Senator Obama, he used his victory speech last night to once again promise hope and change for the country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The journey will be difficult. The road will be long. I face this challenge - I face this challenge with profound humility and knowledge of my own limitations. But I also face it with limitless faith in the capacity of the American people, because if we are willing to work for it and fight for it and believe in it, then I am absolutely certain is that generations from now we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and the jobs for the jobless. This was the moment when the rise of the ocean began to slow and our planet began to heal. This was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on earth. This was the moment. This was the time when we came together to remake this great nation so that it may always reflect our very best selves and our highest ideals. Thank you, Minnesota. God bless you. God bless the United States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Obama also talked about the primary race, saying that instead of making the party weaker it prompted millions of Americans to register to vote. Barack Obama is speaking live in Washington just minutes from now. He's going to be addressing a meeting of the American-Israel public affairs committee and is expected to talk about ending the war in Iraq. We'll take you there about 8:45 Eastern time.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN, ANCHOR: If you are just waking up this morning, it is a new day in politics. Barack Obama becoming the first African-American to clinch the presidential nomination of a major party. PHILLIPS: And we called on CNN reporters from around the globe to see how people are reacting to this historic moment in U.S. politics.
FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello. I'm Fionnuala Sweeney in Paris. People in France waking up to the news this morning in La Figaro, Barack Obama is ready for the battle of Mason Blanche, that is of course the White House. Opinion polls consistently show that French people would prefer Barack Obama to be president of the United States because they believe that he would have a more international point of view than either of his rivals. Interestingly, though, Barack Obama has yet to visit France in a political capacity.
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm David McKenzie, in Nairobi. Many people woke up in slums like this with a bit of a hangover this morning because they were supporting Barack Obama.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm excited because of Obama because he's Kenyan. He's a half Kenya.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want a black man to rule America so that you can see the changes under Obama.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: People say because he has a grandmother here that is one of their own. He's even transcended tribal politics. Kisiis, Kambas, Kikuyus, they're all supporting Obama. They're saying that a man with African heritage might be the next president and they are proud of that.
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Atika Shubert in the western part of Jerusalem. Most residents here are Jewish-Israelis with very different concerns from Americans. The headlines are not about Obama versus Clinton. It's about Iran, how to deal with a country whose president has threatened to wipe Israel off the map. That's why many Israelis here are concerned that Obama is now one step closer to the White House. They're worried that he may open talks with Iran.
ROBERTS: Well, Barack Obama makes history and it is all the buzz with the pundits.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE MADISON, XM RADIO: Historical is the word, and we can't use that enough.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: This historic night.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Truly a history-making night.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When history was made.
DONNA BRAZILE, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: It is a historic moment.
BLITZER: History unfolding.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Our Jeanne Moos was taking in all the history and has her unique take on it.
PHILLIPS: Plus prominent African-American politician Willie Brown joins us next to talk about Barack Obama's historic night.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I will be the Democratic nominee for the president of the United States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Historic words from Barack Obama, the first African- American in U.S history to secure the presidential nomination of a major political party. Now we're joined from someone else who made history, Willie Brown, the former mayor of San Francisco and former speaker of the California State Assembly. He is also the author of "Basic Brown, My life and Our time." He joins me live from San Francisco. And I should point out - first of all, Mayor, great to see you this morning.
WILLIE BROWN, FORMER MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO: Thank you. Nice to see you as well.
PHILLIPS: And as I said to you up there, let's not forget that you were the first black speaker. You were the first black mayor of San Francisco. So, put this in perspective for us. I bet you can relate to Barack Obama in so many ways and you're probably sitting back thinking what took so darn long?
BROWN: Well, I got to tell you from 1972, when Shirley Chisholm first burst up on the scene as a candidate for president all the way through Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and now Barack Obama. It took a very, very long time. But let me tell you, Obama has made it well worth waiting for.
PHILLIPS: Well, I'm curious. Why don't you support him? Why don't you back him?
BROWN: Well, because there are two people, Hillary Clinton and the Clintons were very close to me all the way through my career. They were very helpful during the course of my candidacy for mayor of San Francisco. I knew them in Texas in 1972 in the McGovern campaign. On the other hand, Barack Obama, part of the black network around the country, he was handed off to me back in 2004. We brought him into California and into San Francisco the first time, people didn't even know who Barack Obama was. He has developed a relationship with me and with others like me, it made it very, very difficult. And, therefore, whether it was a woman or whether it was Obama, history would have served and served just as well. But as an African- American, I got to tell you, Barack Obama's candidacy is historic in every sense of the word.
PHILLIPS: And it's not going to get any easier. That's my assumption here. And just like for you becoming the first black mayor and even the first black speaker, you still had a tremendous amount of challenges. Do you think that one of his biggest challenges moving forward will be the issue of race, still?
BROWN: It will still be the issue of race. For Barack Obama, he made all of us in America forget initially that he was even black. It took a long time before people saw him first as a black versus just an ordinary, well-qualified, interesting and clearly charismatic candidate. During the course of the fall campaign, the Republicans will do their best to exploit that residual racism in America. But Obama has moved far beyond that. Obama will have to continue to inspire, as he has done in this primary season, and when he does, so many newcomers will be participating in the process. So many people will be seeing him as an incredible, attractive candidate who happens to have one great tan. And as long as he can do that, his candidacy is going to be all right.
PHILLIPS: He does have one great tan. And this is the all- American story, I mean, this is someone who came from humble beginnings and worked his way up the ladder. What do you think he can do not only for the black community but also just America in general with regard to the way we still stereotype and we still segregate and there's still so much division? Even the Democratic Party has been divided here.
BROWN: Well, Barack Obama's candidacy in the primary has been an interesting one in that you can't reflect back when he's given a black so-called speech. You can't reflect on when he's talked about issues that just affect black people. What he has done is he has inspired black people to participate in the political process while addressing the issues that affect their lives, the issues that affect the lives of others in the same identical way, whether it's health care, whether it's jobs, whether it's safety and security in their neighborhood, whether it's the pursuit of education. He's done that. And suddenly, black people are not asking him to come to the NAACP and speak. They're not asking him to stand up and protest whatever. They're saying, brother, do the job and get the job. And Obama is receiving that benefit.
PHILLIPS: And he is. And he sure is tapping into that youth vote as well. Willie Brown, great talking to you this morning.
BROWN: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: Always an honor. John.
ROBERTS: It is 18 minutes now to the top of the hour. Barack Obama speaking live in Washington just moments from now. We'll take you there live on his first day as the presumptive Democratic nominee. And Hillary Clinton has not concede the nomination to Barack Obama, but it sounds like the fight is over.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: in the coming days, I'll be consulting with supporters and party leaders to determine how to move forward with the best interests of our party and our country guiding my way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Is there a way that Senator Clinton can leave the battlefield with honor? How to survive a loss on this scale ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: And this just in - Senator Barack Obama about to speak in Washington right now to the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee. Live pictures now. Let's bring in our state correspondent, Zain Verjee. Zain, what do we expect Obama to say?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, this is a must-do campaign stop for both Senator Obama and Senator Clinton. They'll both be speaking to the powerful Jewish American lobby group there. Now, this, Kyra, isn't an audience guaranteed to be one over by Senator Obama because there's a little bit of a chill in air. The question they're asking is this - will Senator Obama hold their needs and Israel's needs close to his heart
Now, Senator Obama is going to try and reassure fears on his foreign policy, and so his words today have any weight. He's take an lot of heat saying that he's willing to talk directly to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad without conditions. He's also been criticized for statements in the past that make him seem more pro-Palestinian than more pro-Israel. He's also had to severe ties with advisers who have been critical over Israel and who have talked or rather who have talked or wanted to talk to Hamas. So, we're likely to hear him say today that he's a strong friend of Israel. He's said that before. And that no one should mistake talking to Iran for being soft when it comes to terrorism or protecting Israel's security. Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Now, McCain spoke to the same audience. What did he say?
VERJEE: Yes, he did. You know, he really got a standing ovation when he did speak to the same audience. What he said basically was that there has got to be a tougher line on Iran, that the U.S. needs to impose harsher sanctions. He blasted Obama himself saying talking to Iran was weak and at the end of the day it would threaten Israel's security. Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Zain, I'm curious. Personal question, you're from Kenya. Of course, we know the family ties that Barack Obama has to Kenya. What are Kenyans saying about this win overnight? VERJEE: Well, they've been amazed. They've been excited, and so, so proud. You know, they really see him as a son of Africa. And one thing they keep saying over and over again, and I got a couple of texts from people saying, zuri sana, which means "that's very good, very good." Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Zain Verjee, thanks so much. And of course, we'll take that live as soon as he steps up to the podium. We're tracking it. Thanks, Zain. John.
ROBERTS: Second place is a bitter pill to swallow after starting out as the front-runner. Hillary Clinton had her sights set on the biggest job in the world. She still has not conceded the nomination yet. So how do you admit defeat and do it with class? Joining us now is Bruce Weinstein. He is the ethics guy for businessweek.com. Bruce, you talk about the importance of losing well.
BRUCE WEINSTEIN, BUSINESSWEEK.COM: That's right.
ROBERTS: Did she lose well?
WEINSTEIN: Well, you know, anyone can win well, but it takes a person of grace and courage to lose with dignity. And it's not too late for Hillary Clinton to do this. I mean, let's face it.
ROBERTS: Well, she hasn't done it so far.
WEINSTEIN: Well, I mean, you know, history will tell. She hasn't tossed the towel in yet, but it's not too late and there are some important lessons that she and all of us can take away from losing. Nobody learns from winning. We learn from losing. And it's important not to be angry for too long. Look at what Al Gore did eight years ago. He could have been angry for years. But he was angry for a little while, put it aside and now he is arguably more successful than he was before.
ROBERTS: We did learn from Howard Dean though when he gave his address to the Democratic National Rules Committee that he was quite incensed about what happened there.
WEINSTEIN: For a while, but he didn't stay mired in it.
ROBERTS: It was actually a conversation with Al Gore that brought him down off the ceiling.
WEINSTEIN: A-ha. Well, so stay angry but not for too long.
ROBERTS: But what about her speech last night? Many people are complaining that she was ungracious last night, that she should have at least acknowledged that Barack Obama was the presumed nominee, and she didn't.
WEINSTEIN: I'll admit I was a little surprised, too, but it's not too late. In the next few days it's not too late to step up to the plate and to lose with dignity and grace. And in fact, that will make her in the long run a winner. ROBERTS: Losing a job like this, is that the same as failing?
WEINSTEIN: Well, you know, I think one of the reasons Hillary has stayed in too long was perhaps she considers losing to be a form of personal failure.
ROBERTS: Well, what is it you said "stayed in too long?" Did she stayed in too long?
WEINSTEIN: Well, again, you know, again history will be the judge of that but she hasn't bowed out yet. The thing is it's never too late and it's always possible to rise to the challenge and to end up a winner. I mean, let's face it, we all lose from time to time. But it's not necessarily a sign of personal failure or shortcoming. We should rise to the challenge and bring out the best in ourselves and, therefore, other people.
ROBERTS: Words of wisdom. Bruce Weinstein, it's good to see you again. Thanks for coming in.
WEINSTEIN: Anytime, John. Thanks.
ROBERTS: Kyra.
PHILLIPS: He's clinched the Democratic nomination for president and most of those covering the big event seem to agree on its significance.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Historical is the word, and we can't use that enough.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: This historic night.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Truly a history-making night.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When history was made.
DONNA BRAZILE: It is a historic moment.
BLITZER: History unfolding.
PHILLIPS: CNN's Jeanne Moos has her take on the big primary night finale.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Eight minutes to the top of the hour. We're still waiting for Barack Obama's appearance at the APEC Conference down there in Washington. Meantime, no doubt about it, he made history last night, becoming the first African-American to head the presidential ticket of a major U.S. political party.
PHILLIPS: It's just how big a milestone. Is it? CNN's Jeanne Moos counts the way.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Take a good long look. The face of Barack Obama after announcing he will be the nominee. Absorbing all that applause as the first black presumptive nominee goes down in history.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Historical is the word, and we can't use that enough.
MOOS: No, they couldn't.
BLITZER: This historic night.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Truly a history-making night.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Profound historic importance of tonight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obama has just made history.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we're here when history was made.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is a historic moment.
BLITZER: History unfolding.
MOOS: For one, history unfolded at a faster pace than even that other favorite election night phrase.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The best political team on television.
MOOS: Or BPTOT. The media blogs like to call it. But in this case, every political team agreed.
KEITH OLBERMAN, MSNBC ANCHOR: American history has met the 2008 presidential campaign.
MOOS: Even the history maker himself repeated it.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Senator Clinton has made history in this campaign.
MOOS: One of her supporters held up "Newsweek" with Hillary on cover, while one of his supporters held up "Newsweek" with Obama on the cover. May the best cover candidate win.
BLITZER: CNN cannot project that Senator Barack Obama has enough delegates to secure the Democratic presidential nomination.
MOOS: So, even that didn't deter Hillary's campaign chairman from this introduction.
TERRY MCAULIFFE, CLINTON CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN: Are you ready for the next president of the United States of America?
MOOS: As for Hillary's next move --
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What does Hillary want? What does she want?
JOE MADISON, XM RADIO: If she becomes the running mate, he better hire a food taster.
MOOS: From his actual mate, Senator Obama got a fist bump and gave a path and even had his head rubbed by enthusiastic supporters. As the head to head competition with Senator McCain begins in earnest --
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE: The American people didn't get to know me yesterday as they're just getting to know Senator Obama.
MOOS: That odd smile and delivery got canned.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: That was awful.
MOOS: From primaries to general elections, some things never change.
OBAMA: That's the change we need in America.
MCCAIN: That's not change we can believe in.
MOOS: You can believe this about Hillary.
DAVID BERGEN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: She's going to have to figure out what do I do with the rest of my life? What are you doing the rest of your life?
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN. New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Just the way she handles those things, just brilliant. So, what do you think of this milestone? Put your thoughts on video and tell us what you think Barack Obama's victory means for America and the presidential race. Send your video to i-report.com. Take it live to Washington. This is the AIPAC conference, Barack Obama expected to speak there. This will be his first public comments since becoming the presumed nominee, at least after his speech last night in Minneapolis, St. Paul. A huge day here as the election campaign turns in an entirely new direction.
PHILLIPS: John McCain also speaking to the same group about a week ago, I believe, the same organization, talking about the security of Israel but probably this will take on quite a different tone after last night and Barack Obama's success.
ROBERTS: It was Monday, but it seems like a week ago.
PHILLIPS: It's almost a week.
ROBERTS: I tell you.
PHILLIPS: I said about a week ago.
ROBERTS: This hour has seven days, so you can imagine what the last 24 have been like. And we called on our CNN reporters around the globe to see how people are reacting to this historic moment in U.S. politics. Take a look.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong at the Foreign Correspondents Club. A popular gathering place for reporters and media junkies. Now even though Hillary Clinton has not conceded, the newspapers here are already called the race. Take, for instance, this headline. It says "Clinton to admit defeat. Obama makes history." So, the attention now shifts to what's next, how will Obama address China, and will he bow to the instincts of fellow Democrats like Nancy Pelosi who is very critical of China? And that is next headline.
FREDERICK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Of course Barack Obama clinching the Democratic nomination is making headlines here in Germany. Good morning, everyone. My name is Fred Pleitgen coming to you from Berlin. This country is very much in Barack Obama's corner. As early as a month ago, 52 percent of Germans said Hillary Clinton should quit immediately and make room for Barack Obama, and this building here is the reason why. This is where John F. Kennedy stood as he spoke to Berliners and pledged America's allegiance to Germany in the face of the Soviet threat. And many here see Barack Obama as something like a new John F. Kennedy and that's why this candidate is electrifying Germans.
KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Kyung Lah in Tokyo where the town of Obama, Japan, says it doesn't matter that Hillary Clinton hasn't dropped out of the race. A town delegation says it is planning on going to the U.S. to try to meet candidate Obama now that he's clinched the nomination. The town delegation says they do hope to try to meet Barack Obama sometime in August. As far as the rest of Japan, they are getting a crash course in U.S. presidential politics. They're learning it's not quite over yet. There's another candidate for them to know, and his name is John McCain.
ROBERTS: It's amazing to see the way the world is reacting to this. Again, some live pictures here of the AIPAC conference in Washington, D.C.. It looks like the program is just about to get under way. We'll keep monitoring this because Barack Obama the expected speaker, first speaker, and he was supposed to be on stage about 15 minutes ago, but these things typically Kyra, in Washington, have a habit of starting a little bit late. If you're 15 minutes late, you're right on time with a lot of these things.
PHILLIPS: I don't know, the White House is pretty good. When they give you the two-minute warning, they usually hit it pretty well.
ROBERTS: Yes, but the two-minute warning is usually 15 minutes late. There you go. But it's just extraordinary to see the reaction around the world to what's happened. PHILLIPS: And you and I have been looking through all the various newspapers and going online. And we are talking about from Russia to Ireland to Australia to South Africa, front-page stories about Barack Obama and the fact he has made history. There has truly been an international interest, not just an interest here at home, and how he has tapped into the youth vote, which has been incredible. That played a huge effect on what happened last night as well.
ROBERTS: And of course, the big question and we've been putting this to our all star line up of guests this morning is what happens now with Hillary Clinton. When does she suspend her campaign, because it's expected that she is not going to get out because there's a difference. If you suspend your campaign, you hang on to your delegates. If you get out, your delegates are up for grabs. She'd probably like to use those delegates, and she has a lot of them, for as much leverage as she can possibly get to get whatever it is that she wants prior to the convention in August.
PHILLIPS: And you know, what's interesting, we talk about how Hillary Clinton as a female and Barack Obama as an African-American. They've created this unity across the world, you know, gender and race and that discussion. Yet there's so much contention between the two of them.
ROBERTS: Yes and at the same time division in the party.
PHILLIPS: Exactly but then again, if they get on this ticket together, it could be amazing for the sake of the party.
ROBERTS: Yes. We're going to keep monitoring what's going on in Washington. But right now, we're going to toss it over to our friends in Atlanta. Thanks so much for joining us on this AMERICAN MORNING. We'll be back again tomorrow.
PHILLIPS: Tony Harris and Heidi Collins take it from here.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.
