Return to Transcripts main page
Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
Republican National Convention
Aired August 31, 2004 - 19:00 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST: Good evening. I'm Anderson Cooper from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
GOP heavyweights prepare to take center stage tonight, and President Bush clarifies his position on the war on terror.
360 starts now.
The Terminator turned governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and First Lady Laura Bush take center stage in Madison Square Garden as the Republican convention enters day two.
Liz Cheney, daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney, joins me to talk about the gender gap, the marriage gap, and same-sex marriage.
The man who says whatever's on his mind, always outrageous, always outspoken. We go live one on one with sharp-tongued comedian Bill Maher.
And hostage horror. A dozen hostages murdered in Iraq. Are party politics overshadowing the coverage of the war?
ANNOUNCER: This is a special edition of ANDERSON COOPER 360, live from the Republican National Convention in New York.
COOPER: And good evening.
It is just being called to order here on day two of the Republican National Convention. If the November election comes down to who Americans think can better handle the war on terror, then events around the world today certainly show that the problem is not going away, and that it's not an issue just for Americans.
In Iraq, insurgents released video, which we will not show you, of the gruesome executions of 12 Nepalese workers who had been kidnapped just over a week ago. The group which claimed responsibility said that 12 were murdered because they cooperated with the United States.
In the southern Israel city of Bersheva, two bus bombings killed 16 people and wounded at least 93 others. The Palestinian group Hamas claimed responsibility.
And in Moscow, female -- police say a female suicide bomber killed nine people and wounded more than 50 others when she detonated a bomb outside a subway station. All of that as the president strongly countered his own words on the subject of winning the war on terror. Senior White House correspondent John King with more on that in a moment.
We'll also hear from national correspondent Kelly Wallace reporting on the evening's political heavyweight, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and senior political correspondent Candy Crowley, who has been following some personnel changes at the Kerry campaign.
Up first, John King -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, the president making his way here to New York. We will actually see him in the hall tonight via satellite feed. But out of the state today here, out of this convention hall, the president trying to clear up a bit of confusion about just what he thinks about the war on terror.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KING (voice-over): The day's most important speech was in Nashville, not New York.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We meet today at a time of war for our country, a war we did not start, yet one that we will win.
KING: The president's goal, get his convention back on script, after a detour of his own making. In an interview broadcast Monday, Mr. Bush said, "I don't think you can win the war on terror." Democrats called it a glaring admission of failure. The White House said it was nothing of the sort, but Mr. Bush chose his words much more carefully in a speech to the American Legion.
BUSH: In this different kind of war, we may never sit down at a peace table. But make no mistake about it, we are winning, and we will win.
KING: The president's wartime leadership will again be the convention's overriding primetime focus. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger disagrees with Mr. Bush's conservative stances on abortion and gay rights. But like Monday night's headliners, Governor Schwarzenegger will cast winning the war as the defining issue and say America has bounced back from the 9/11 attacks because of the perseverance, character, and leadership of the 43rd president of the United States, George W. Bush.
Twin daughters Barbara and Jenna joined First Lady Laura Bush in a visit to the convention hall to prepare for her primetime speech, which will include a defense for her husband's limits on embryonic stem cell research.
The Bush campaign called inappropriate Band-Aids some delegates wore to mock Democrat John Kerry's Vietnam Purple Heart and has also criticized the campaign law loophole allowing ads like the so-called swift boat veteran spots critical of Senator Kerry. Yet in an interview with CNN, top Bush political adviser Karl Rove embraced a central theme of those spots.
KARL ROVE, SENIOR BUSH ADVISER: It's (UNINTELLIGIBLE) frankly an insult to them to suggest that they were routinely (UNINTELLIGIBLE) war criminals, which is what he called them.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KING: Now, Anderson, the first lady will speak from the podium tonight. The two Bush daughters, the twin daughters, will speak from the floor. And the president of the United States will speak to the delegates here via satellite from Pennsylvania, introducing his wife, saying thank you -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, John King, thanks very much for that.
While John Kerry is taking a day off from campaigning, his campaign is being urged to make some big changes at the top. The moves come amid growing concerns from some Democratic analysts who fear that Kerry's response to the swift boat ads has been anything but swift.
Senior political correspondent Candy Crowley has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think the war on terror can be won?
SEN. JOHN KERRY, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Absolutely.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Off the island of Nantucket, some Democrats cringed watching their candidate answer a war on terror question while windsurfing. It is the least of their complaints.
On the eve of the fall campaign, as John Kerry closes his worst month of the general election, there are outside calls for him to make major changes in his staff.
Party sources and some elected officials say campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill, called into rescue Kerry during the primary season, is now on the receiving end of criticism that Kerry was too slow to respond to the swift boat attacks and that his campaign lacks definition and an overall strategy.
Two Democratic sources say Kerry himself has questioned whether the campaign has fought back hard enough. One party strategist with ties to the campaign describes the candidate and his wife as unhappy with the drift of things.
Inside the campaign, there is acknowledgement of a rough August and some slippage in the polls, but on and off the record, top-level aides insist there is no shakeup, major or otherwise, in the offing.
Several people, including former Clinton spokesman Joe Lockhart, were pulled on board a week ago to help with message. But the campaign portrays the additions as a way to beef up for the fall, as opposed to any problems with the way things are going.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: The crowd here, the Republican National Convention standing for the National Anthem. The singer is Gracie Rosenberg (ph) of Nashville, Tennessee.
Joining me now, Candy Crowley, here on the platform at the Republican National Convention -- Candy.
CROWLEY: Well, talking about this, the outside forces saying, Oh, my heavens, look at the -- what the polls are doing, the Kerry campaign didn't respond swiftly enough, I talked to one of the top advisers in the Kerry campaign, said, this is the peanut gallery. This, these are not people from inside the campaign, this outside the campaign, kind of chattering. We have a plan. We're moving forward. There will be absolutely no changes.
Now, again, you know, what's a big change, what's not? They are bringing some people on board. But they categorically deny that there's any kind of major stuff coming up.
COOPER: All right, Candy Crowley, thanks very much.
John Kerry is digging deep into his war chest for the election. Here's a quick news note. The Kerry campaign is spending a bundle, $45 million, for a 20-state advertising blitz. Now, those ads will run right up to election day on November 2.
You may not know this, but Arnold Schwarzenegger's first film was 1970's "Hercules in New York." Candy Crowley, of course, knows that. Thirty-four years later, Hercules returns to the Big Apple with the political might to match his muscle. The governor of California has a starring role in the Republican National Convention tonight, and he has never stood on a stage like the one he will take shortly.
National correspondent Kelly Wallace has a preview.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He got a firsthand look last night at the place where he will make his national political debut. In his speech just three hours from now, Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to say, "I'm proud to belong to the party of Lincoln, Roosevelt, Reagan, and Bush. To my fellow immigrants listening tonight, I want you to know how welcome you are in this party."
He's the rock star of the Republican Party, the action hero.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE TERMINATOR")
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, ACTOR: Hasta la vista, baby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Turned California governor, still using those Hollywood one-liners.
SCHWARZENEGGER: Thank you. And I'll be back. Thank you.
WALLACE: He's got sky-high popularity with Republicans, strong appeal with Democrats as well, which explains why President Bush, who didn't exactly embrace Arnold Schwarzenegger during California's historic recall, is more than happy to share the stage with him now.
BUSH: Some accuse us both of not being able to speak the language.
WALLACE: But they do have their differences. Schwarzenegger, unlike the president, is a social moderate, who supports gay rights, abortion rights, and gun control. And now he's following in the footsteps of another actor turned California governor, who made his way to the national political stage, the late former president Ronald Reagan. The difference? Unless the U.S. Constitution is changed, Austrian-born Schwarzenegger can't make the leap.
SCHWARZENEGGER: When I came to this country 35 years ago,...
WALLACE: There are risks in this partnership. The governor could be identified with a president enormously unpopular in his home state. Mr. Bush risks getting upstaged by a man who loves to make a splash.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: And Governor Schwarzenegger dropped by a Manhattan firehouse today. Just a short time ago, I spoke to an adviser who worked with Governor Schwarzenegger on his speech. I asked him how the governor is doing. He said he is prepped and ready and excited. Asked how he relaxed today, we're told he played his favorite game, and Anderson, that would be Some Chap (ph).
COOPER: I saw him at the podium. He did seem quite relaxed on video. Thanks very much, Kelly Wallace.
360 next, Arnold Schwarzenegger taking the podium. How important has he become to the president's reelection? Well, Paul Begala and Bob Novak go 360 in tonight's "CROSSFIRE."
Plus, the first lady takes center stage tonight, Laura Bush in the rough-and-tumble world of politics.
Also ahead tonight, a conversations with Liz Cheney, Ralph Nader, and Bill Maher, our special guests.
First, a look at who's up at the podium tonight.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: One of the driving strategies of the Bush-Cheney campaign is to hammer home their position that John Kerry flip-flops on issues. True or not, it was a key theme of Rudy Giuliani's primetime convention speech last night. He said, and I quote, "John Kerry has made it the rule to change his position, not the exception."
Today, as we know, the president set out to clear up any confusion that he may have caused about his commitment to finishing the war on terror. Does this qualify as a flip-flop? Let's put that question in the "CROSSFIRE."
Joining me, "CROSSFIRE" co-hosts Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson.
Tucker, did the president flip-flop today?
TUCKER CARLSON, CO-HOST, "CROSSFIRE": Oh, I don't know. I mean, it's hard to know exactly what he meant in his NBC interview. He may have been making some sort of deeper philosophical point that we can never really defeat evil. It's been with us since the beginning of time, and it's probably going to be with us till the very end of time. And maybe that's what he's saying.
But, you know, his position has been pretty clear from the beginning. In fact, he's been attacked for it, that we're in this worldwide campaign against terrorism, and that we're going to win. People have said that's too ambitious. He's said that all along.
Again, I don't know what he was talking about yesterday, but his position generally has been pretty clear, I think.
COOPER: Paul, would you characterize it as a flip-flop?
PAUL BEGALA, CO-HOST, "CROSSFIRE": Well, of course. But why not just tell the truth? Which is something it's difficult for this president to do. I don't know if it's ego or what. But he made a mistake. He said a spectacularly stupid thing, substantively and politically. He said, We can't win the war on terror. And now, he's not one to make deep philosophical points, to say the least. He's certainly not one to hide behind complexities and niceties of international law, which is what he's trying to do now.
He should just tell the truth, which is, you know what? I was off script, I didn't have Dick Cheney to tell me what to think. I didn't have a Teleprompter. And I really don't quite know what I'm doing, which is the message we got from that interview with NBC.
COOPER: Tucker, day two of this convention has slugged, I want to get it right, the compassion of the American people. You see signs around here that say "People of Compassion." Isn't this the same slogan, basically, I mean, sort of a retread of the compassionate (UNINTELLIGIBLE) conservatism we heard about in 2000?
CARLSON: Well, let me state up front, I'm not a person of compassion, so it's hard for me to know exactly what it means. But look, the message here is sort of the reverse of the message of the Democratic convention. Obviously, the message there was, sure, we're Democrats, we're not that scary. You know what I mean, we're not as liberal as we seem, or actually heroic Vietnam veterans with statuesque physiques.
The message here is, we may be Republicans, but, in fact, we're really nice, sort of warm, furry creatures.
I guess that, you know, that works. You -- it combats the kind of central image problem that the Republican Party has, which is that it's mean. I personally think the notion that the party is tough is its main selling point. But then, I'm not a sophisticated strategist, I guess.
COOPER: Paul, are you a sophisticated strategist?
BEGALA: A former sophisticated strategist. The problem is, for the second day in a row, George W. Bush is undermining the central message of this very well-scripted and well-executed convention. On day one, they wanted to show strong leadership against terrorism. Bush goes out and says we can't win the war on terrorism.
Tonight, they want to show compassionate conservatism. What does Bush do? He goes on the Rush Limbaugh show, not exactly the home of compassion. Rush Limbaugh famously once told an African-American caller, and I'm quoting here, "Take that bone out of your nose." Not exactly a people-of-compassion kind of statement. No, you don't -- you can't have it both ways.
(CROSSTALK)
BEGALA: ... go on this kook radio show.
CARLSON: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), look, it's not a kook radio show.
BEGALA: It's a nut radio show.
CARLSON: I mean, look, the, you know, the guy's telling jokes. I mean, I must say...
BEGALA: He's not telling jokes. He's a racist (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
CARLSON: ... if there's one issue that divides the -- no, that divides the party -- He's not a racist, please.
BEGALA: He's a racist (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
CARLSON: That's a pretty tired throwback, so I think that's not working.
BEGALA: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) tell a black (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
CARLSON: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) about 1984. But let me, let me -- oh, no, let me just say one thing. If there's one issue that does divide the party, it's humor. You have on the one side this kind of relentless, harsh, grim, dour humorlessness. And on the other side, you know, I don't know, Rush Limbaugh, whatever you think of him, he's pretty amusing. It doesn't make Bush a hater for going on his show, I mean, it's pretty (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
BEGALA: I will say this, I will say this. Unlike President Bush, Rush Limbaugh does have a prescription drug plan. So, you know, (UNINTELLIGIBLE). CARLSON: Oh, come on.
BEGALA: Oh, that's humor, Tucker. I thought you wanted humor.
CARLSON: Come on, Paul, please...
BEGALA: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
CARLSON: ... give the guy a break. I mean, Bush actually...
BEGALA: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
CARLSON: You know what? You just...
BEGALA: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE) my president has no business going on that divisive, hatemonger show...
CARLSON: You've got to be...
BEGALA: ... particularly when their message is on compassionate.
COOPER: Paul, it's one of the most popular radio shows in America.
BEGALA: Yes, and?
CARLSON: It's so over the top. I mean, come on, look, Rush Limbaugh is not getting up there claiming that the United States is a bad, deeply flawed, fundamentally flawed country that we went to say war in Afghanistan to protect the interests of oil companies. I mean, come on, he's not saying things like that. The guy's a little over the top sometime, but to call him a hater is just untrue.
COOPER: Final thought, Paul Begala, then we've got to go.
BEGALA: The president is undermining his own message. What little hair Karl Rove has left, he is pulling out, because Bush unscripted is a very scary thing. They can't wait till they get him in Madison Square Garden, get him under wraps, get him under script, and have him read carefully the words other people write for him on the plates on the teleprompter screens. And then Karl will be able to sleep.
COOPER: Tucker, I'll let your sigh be your response.
CARLSON: Yes, Bush, Bush, I guess my point is just that Bush is deeply evil. Paul is absolutely right. I give up, I'm going home.
BEGALA: No, he's just (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
CARLSON: Thanks, very, very, evil, very evil.
BEGALA: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
COOPER: Tucker Carlson, Paul Begala...
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: ... thanks, guys.
Arnold Schwarzer (ph) has become major star in the Republican Party, no doubt about it. Still, the governor of California, who was born in Austria, won't find much support here for changing the Constitution to allow him to run for the White House.
The "National Journal" asked 44 Republican insiders, Should the Constitution be amended to allow foreign-born citizens to run? Twenty-nine insiders said no, only 15 yes.
Today's buzz is this, what do you think? Would you vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger if he were allowed to run for president? Log onto CNN.com/360, cast your vote. Results at the end of the program.
And as the delegates begin the, begin, Vice President Dick Cheney's daughter Liz is going to join me to talk politics, and how her family deals with the same-sex marriage debate. Delegates are beginning the roll call.
Also tonight, the first lady center stage, Laura Bush on the personal side of the man she wants to get elected.
And a little later, a man some claim is playing into GOP hands, presidential candidate Ralph Nader, a frank talk with him about why he's still running, why he thinks Republicans are giving him money.
We'll also go 360 with Bill Maher, always uncensored, always outspoken. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: And it is just a formality, of course, these days, but the real reason why the delegates are here in New York is to nominate a presidential candidate. They started voting yesterday through state-by-state roll call. President Bush needs 1,255 votes for the nomination. He'll be expected to reach that mark tonight, thanks to the Pennsylvania delegation. Right now, he's at North Dakota. Let's listen in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... we're a major energy state, the sixth- largest energy-producing state in the country. We're the home of Sacakawea (ph), a young native woman who led Lewis and Clark on their journey of discovery. Come visit us in North Dakota.
We're proud to be with you tonight and to cast all 26 of our votes on behalf of our current president, and our future president, George W. Bush.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: North Dakota, 26 votes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ohio has 91 votes.
GOV. BOB TAFT (R), OHIO: Mr. Secretary, I'm Governor Bob Taft of Ohio, the Buckeye State, which helped elect our great president four years ago, and will help reelect him this year.
Ohio passes. Thank you, Mr. Secretary.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: State of Ohio, 91 votes, pass.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oklahoma has 41 votes.
SEN. DON NICKLES (R), OKLAHOMA: Mr. President, Oklahoma has 41 votes. I'm Senator Don Nichols. For the last nine presidential elections, Oklahoma has voted Republican. I have every confidence that in comparing President George Bush and Senator John Kerry, that Oklahoma will make it 10 in a row. We will vote overwhelmingly to reelect President George W. Bush as our president.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oklahoma, 41 votes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oregon has 31 votes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Secretary, I am Kevin Mannix (ph), proud to be chairman of the Oregon delegation...
COOPER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) roll call vote. After that will be Pennsylvania. That is expected to push the president over the top, giving him the votes he needs from the delegates assembled at this convention. We'll listen in through Pennsylvania.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... Republican-led 1955 legislature, and a Republican governor passed comprehensive civil rights legislation 10 years before the Congress of the United States. Oregon proud to have a progressive tradition, but also proud to be willing to work hard this year to win Oregon for our great president, George W. Bush. Oregon respectfully passes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oregon, 31 votes, pass.
COOPER: Pennsylvania is next, Pennsylvania expect to put...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pennsylvania, 75 votes.
COOPER: ... the president over the top. Let's listen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Secretary, greetings from the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania has a proud tradition of leading America. The Declaration of Independence was born in Pennsylvania. Our nation's homeland security is led By Pennsylvania's own Tom Ridge. And on November 2, Pennsylvania again will lead and win for George W. Bush.
Now, I've heard (UNINTELLIGIBLE) called a swing state, and I've heard Pennsylvania called a red state and a blue state. But America, Pennsylvania is a George W. Bush state. The Pennsylvania delegation is honored to cast its 75 votes for President George W. Bush.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pennsylvania, with 75 votes, puts us over the top for George W. Bush. COOPER: That was Renee Amoore, the delegation chair for Pennsylvania, casting her delegation's votes. And now President Bush has enough votes from all the delegates assembled here. A formality, but all part of the tradition of this convention.
Vice President Dick Cheney caused a stir last week when he publicly disagreed with President Bush's call for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. He still says he supports the president's decision.
A rare moment in the spotlight for a man who prefers to stay behind the scenes. If there were hard feelings, they appear to have dissipated. The vice president has had a very public role inside Madison Square Garden, receiving warm ovations several times yesterday.
Tomorrow night, the spotlight is on him again, when he re-accepts and he accepts his renomination. Earlier today, I had a chance to speak with Dick Cheney's daughter Liz, a key player in his campaign. I began by asking her about the importance of female voters and what women are looking for, especially in terms of security and the war in Iraq.
LIZ CHENEY, DICK CHENEY'S DAUGHTER: What I hear from women as I travel around the country is very much they want a leader who's got political courage to make tough decisions. And they want to know that you -- they've got somebody who's steadfast and who's going to do the right thing.
And the fact that Senator Kerry has taken different positions just within the last few months on the issue of the war makes people very nervous. (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
COOPER: When you say taken different positions, you mean what specifically?
CHENEY: I mean voting for the authorization to go to war, then voting against the $87 billion to support the troops, to pay for body armor, to pay for ammunition for them, then saying himself that he voted for the $87 billion before he voted against the $87 billion...
COOPER: But, but, I mean...
CHENEY: ... then saying he was the antiwar candidate, and...
COOPER: Well, but he, he's arguing that what he was actually voting for was that he wanted to give money to support the troops, it wasn't a vote against supporting troops, it was a vote against keeping the tax cuts as they were, not using -- not repealing some of the tax cuts in order to pay for that.
CHENEY: You know, I, what he said is that it's complicated. And I think what President Bush believes is that when you're at war, the issue of money to support the troops, money to pay for their ammunition and their body armor and the tools they need to do the job once you have sent them to war, should never be complicated. COOPER: Some of the weapons systems that the Republicans have criticized Senator Kerry or alleged that Senator Kerry wanted to cancel in the mid-'90s, the earlier than that, are some of the very, which he denies he wanted to do that. He says it was more of a budget issue. Are some of the very same weapons systems that your dad voted to rule out.
CHENEY: Well, I think you have to look at the timing. I think that when my dad was secretary of defense, it was as the cold war was ending. We clearly were ratcheting back. There were a lot of weapons systems that we did not need then because the threat from the Soviet Union was gone. So I think you have to look at timing.
With Senator Kerry, for example, he voted to cut our intelligence budget in the very weeks after the first bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993. So you have a consistent record all along of Senator Kerry voting against weapons systems, voting for a nuclear freeze...
COOPER: But he argues it was that issue of timing, and it was more of a cold war thing. And in fact, then the Republicans the following year cut a billion dollars from the intelligence budget.
CHENEY: You know, I -- it -- his argument doesn't work if you go back and look at the dates. It's been throughout his entire career in the U.S. Senate that he has been either wavering with the political winds or coming down on the side of cutting weapons systems, not supporting our intelligence functions.
You know, and I think it's an issue that he doesn't want us to look at too closely, frankly. I mean, you saw at their convention the real focus was on his service in Vietnam, and not on his 30 years of service since then. And a record that really requires a very close look.
COOPER: Well, I don't want to get too much into this. He argues, just to represent his side, he argues, of course, that throughout his career, he's actually been supportive of a lot of these weapons systems.
But that's obviously a point of contention.
CHENEY: He should get you as a surrogate, Anderson.
COOPER: Well, no, I, hey, I'm just playing devil's advocate here. It's my job.
I want to talk about the gay marriage amendment. The other -- a week ago, your dad said this publicly. I want to show just what he said for our audience.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: People ought to be able free -- ought to be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to. The question that comes up with respect to the issue of marriage is, what kind of official sanction or approval is going to be granted by government, if you will, to particular relationships?
Historically, that's been a relationship that's been handled by the states...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Were you surprised that he said that, that publicly? Because previously he had said he supports the president's position, which, of course, he still says he does. But it was a very personal statement.
L. CHENEY: No, I wasn't surprised. I mean, you know, that's the Dick Cheney that I know, to talk about Mary and also to talk about how proud he is of both his daughters. I thought it was very touching. And I think he was very clear about his position, but also clear about saying that the president sets the policy, the president is in favor of the constitutional amendment and my dad supports the president in that.
COOPER: For you personally, is it a hard issue to deal with?
L. CHENEY: I think it's an issue that, you know, deserves discussion, deserves debate. It's an issue that I'm comfortable with what my dad said in Iowa a couple of weeks ago.
But it's also, frankly, not an issue that we spend a lot of time as a family talking about. We're really focused on the future and we're really focused on the stakes in this election. We're focused on national security and we're focused on the economy.
And when we talk about policy, that's really, you know, what we talk about and what we spend our time on. And I think that's what's going to decide this election.
COOPER: Thanks very much.
L. CHENEY: Great to be here. Thanks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Well, that was Liz Cheney, daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney.
"360" next: counterspin, Ralph Nader sounds off on the Republicans and Democrats and his own bid to take over the White House. We talk to him.
Plus, Bill Maher unplugged; the president's chief of staff; also Andy Card will join us.
We are live from Madison Square Garden. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Many images from the GOP. Welcome back to "360's" coverage of the second night of the Republican National Convention here at Madison Square Garden. I'm joined by CNN's Wolf Blitzer and CNN's Judy Woodruff, who I'll be passing the torch off to in half an hour.
What are you both going to be listening to tonight?
WOLF BLITZER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm going to be very interested in Michael Steele. He's a rising African-American politician, the lieutenant governor of Maryland. They put him in the 10:00 p.m. Eastern hour to really kick off the big hour when the three broadcast networks are taking this situation live here at the convention.
I want to hear what he has to say. Some suggest he's the Republican version of Barack Obama.
COOPER: And a name the national audience really hasn't heard.
Judy, what are you going to be...
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm putting myself in the shoes of the viewer at home, Anderson. I'm going to be listening for Arnold Schwarzenegger. I mean, this is a big deal for him to come to a national convention and make a speech. I think it's going to be a very moving speech. We've already seen part of what he's going to say.
And I think Mrs. Bush's speech, Laura Bush, the First Lady, we're going to hear a little bit more about the softer side of George W. Bush. This is the night when they present the likable side of George Bush. And that's what we're going to be listening to.
BLITZER: And we're also hear from the twins, Barbara and Jenna Bush.
COOPER: That should be interesting. They're going to introduce their dad, who by video, will introduce their mom. Should be an interesting night indeed.
Judy, Wolf, we'll talk to you shortly.
The president arrives here on Thursday, but there's already a presidential candidate at the convention: Ralph Nader. Many Democrats blame him, of course, for the 2000 election outcome. Many will blame him if John Kerry loses in November.
The Independent candidate wants the Democrats, basically, off his back. He also wants Republicans to know they can't use him to reelect George Bush, because he says that the last thing this country needs.
Ralph Nader joined me for an exclusive interview earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: The latest "Washington Post"/ABC News poll shows that you are only getting 1 percent of votes among likely voters. Just yesterday, Pennsylvania's judges said you cannot run as an Independent. You're only on the ballot in a few states. Is there any chance you're going to drop out?
RALPH NADER, INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No, not at all. As a matter of fact, we're getting 4 or 5 percent in some polls, like "Time Magazine" and we're going to win a lot of those lawsuits that are just obstructive, unconstitutional assaults on our ballot access rights brought by democratic dirty trick specialists.
COOPER: What are you trying to prove?
NADER: We're trying to show the American people a brand of politics that cares about them. As workers, living wage, as patients, health insurance coverage, as a fair tax system, getting out of the war in Iraq with a responsible six-month withdrawal and a crackdown on corporate crime, fraud and abuse.
COOPER: But, I mean of those who support Kerry, who say, "Look, you can't win. You're just taking votes away from Kerry," you say?
NADER: I say we all have an equal right to run. The American people want more voices and choices. They want authentic agenda based on 40 years of working hard for the health, safety and well-being of Americans. Which is what I've done and what my running mate, Peter Miguel Camejo's done.
COOPER: Do you fear at all, though -- I mean, Howard Dean, I was talking to him a while back -- and he was saying that you risk tarnishing your legacy; that you have this remarkable legacy of activism and working on behalf of consumers, and that you risk tarnishing that.
NADER: No, what we're trying to do is extend it. Right now, citizen groups are shut out of Washington, D.C., which is corporate- occupied territory. With more parties converging more and more, giving this country over to giant business, which has no allegiance to our country other than to control it or abandon it.
We're trying to put the people back into politics and show a caring politics, not phony patriotism like some of the Republicans are spouting, while they caress the public, but they do the dirty work for big business in taking over the country.
COOPER: But you know the argument that some Republicans are giving you money to take votes away from John Kerry.
NADER: That's not true.
We're resisting all organized Republican help. We want both parties to get off our backs; don't entangle our campaign with their mischievous schemes and let us compete for the American people.
Including: I think President Bush has a lot of explaining to do to conservative Republicans who are pretty upset over things like giant deficits, over things like sovereignty, shredding WTO and NAFTA; corporate welfare: their tax is going to corporate subsidies... COOPER: And do you think you can get some of those...
NADER: ... and the big government PATRIOT Act.
Yes.
COOPER: You think you can get some of the conservative Republicans?
NADER: Yes, indeed. Because I think he's not explaining why he's betrayed conservative principles and why he doesn't want any conservatives on the podium.
COOPER: From what you saw last night, what jumped out at you?
NADER: I think a lot of empty rhetoric. I think this is basically one giant, corporate party with corporate hospitality suites, wining and dining and pledging contributions in return for more political favors, so that we have a government of the Exxons by the General Motors for the Duponts.
And I think it's really sad that the taxpayer has to pony up $13 million to $15 million to support this convention because the two parties in Congress passed the law tabbing the taxpayer to do that.
COOPER: As you look at the issues that you think is actually going to bring people to the polls, what are those issues? What is the key issue?
NADER: The big one is the biggest swing state for Bush: it's called Iraq. That's going to be a big issue.
COOPER: You think Iraq more than the economy?
NADER: Probably about the same.
I think basically Iraq, the quagmire, the casualties for our troops, the increasing destruction over there, but the economy's big, too. Look at the latest figures. More people without health insurance; more children growing up in poverty; more people without jobs. It's bad all the way around here; except for the rich.
COOPER: Have you talked to John Kerry lately?
NADER: I talked to him about six weeks ago and I cautioned him to come down hard on these dirty tricks, because he may be faced with a mini Watergate scandal. The press is already beginning to go into these areas where they're obstructing us, intimidating our signature gatherers, harassing them.
COOPER: You claim the Democrats are harassing you?
NADER: Yes, and it comes right from the Democratic National Committee, Terry McAuliffe himself told me that he wouldn't call it dirty tricks. He said he's going to try to obstruct us from getting on the ballot in maybe 16 to 20 states. COOPER: How many states do you think you're actually going to be on the ballot?
NADER: I think we'll be on about 40 state ballots, plus the District of Columbia, but not without a great effort against the Democrats who are telling millions of Americans that they're not going to have the opportunity to vote for candidates of our choice, namely the Nader-Camejo ticket. That's pretty anti-democratic for a party to call itself democratic.
COOPER: Well, they're saying that a vote for you basically ends up being a vote for President Bush?
NADER: Well, the way to do it is compete. I beg to differ. I think that we're going to get many more votes from people who voted for Bush in 2000, because they're so furious with him over the deficits and all the other things I mentioned.
And the liberal Democrats are abandoning us in droves. So, if they want to vote for Kerry, I just have one bit of advice: don't give him a free ride; if you don't make Kerry better by demanding something of him, he's going to turn out worse, because the corporate interests are always pulling in one direction. It's important for Democrats to pull in the other toward the people of this country.
COOPER: Ralph Nader, thanks very much.
NADER: You're welcome.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Wow, Ralph Nader.
"360" next: live, one-on-one with White House Chief of Staff Andy Card on President Bush's campaign. Plus, the outspoken Bill Maher: hear what he has to say about the battle for the White House.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Anyone who watches "Realtime" with Bill Maher and HBO knows that Maher's a political provocateur with a sharp wit and even sharper teeth. In '96 he said he voted for Dole; in 2000 Ralph Nader; this time around he says he's voting for Kerry. He joins me now from Los Angeles.
Bill, thanks for being with us.
MAHER: Ah, you've reviewed my voting record.
COOPER: I did. I had our crack research team do that. It's a pretty interesting voting record.
And I want to ask you about Ralph Nader. Before I do though, I want to show a clip from your show "Realtime" where you and Michael Moore are trying to convince Ralph Nader not to run. Let's show this clip.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAHER: Michael and I are going to get down on our knees and beg you not to run. Please. Please. Please. Please.
MICHAEL MOORE, FILM DIRECTOR: Please, Ralph!
MAHER: Please Ralph, don't run for president. Because you're a great American, don't run. Please!
MOORE: Don't do this to the country. Don't do this.
MAHER: Please!
MOORE: Don't do this Ralph!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Bill, apparently it didn't work.
MAHER: No. It shows the effect I have on people: nil.
COOPER: What you also, at one point, gave Ralph Nader a picture of O.J. Simpson. Why?
MAHER: Right. That was right in that same segment there. Because I wanted Ralph to understand that sometimes a lifetime of achievement can sort of be overshadowed by making just one mistake.
COOPER: And you think he should get out of the race at this point?
MAHER: Are we talking about O.J. or Ralph Nader?
Well, we asked Ralph, in the interest of, we think, our country if he would reconsider. Not because we don't love Ralph and not because Ralph isn't right about everything. I just heard your interview with him. Of course he's right. And that's what I said to him.
Ralph, sometimes you can be right and not be correct. It's a very fine distinction. But it's one that I personally learned after the year 2000. And I thought, looking back at my vote in 2000 for Ralph Nader, it was kind of a bratty thing to do, to throw up our hands and say, "Oh, you know what, who cares if there's the lesser of two evils?" Well, a lot of places don't have that luxury.
There is a lesser of two evils. And you've got to opt for that.
COOPER: I read that after the Democratic convention you said you were exhausted by optimism. After the first night of this convention, anything exhaust you yet? MAHER: Yes. Well, I was exhausted by the fact that they were talking about how optimistic they were and having this childish contest with the other party to decide who is more optimistic.
You know, I'm a realist. I think what we need is more realism and less optimism. Optimism is great if it's well-founded. If they're just pulling it out of their rear end, then I don't see the point.
COOPER: Are you hearing realism...
MAHER: This country was founded on a very pessimistic document, the Constitution. It's full of checks of balances...
COOPER: Are you hearing realism from the Republicans?
MAHER: Well, of course, not, it's a political convention. Come on, it's a marketing tool. I mean, they're there to impress people with their program, and they don't really feel the need to stick to the truth. But, you know, when did politicians ever feel that need?
COOPER: What do you think has been -- I mean, the criticism so far of this convention has been that they're putting a very moderate face on the Republican Party. Do you think that's fair?
MAHER: Of course it is. This is the party, really, of John Ashcroft and Dick Cheney and George Bush and Tom DeLay. And, you know, that's not what they want to present to the American public this week because they're trying to get those swing voters, the three of them that are left in America, to come over to their side.
I think their strategy -- and I think it's a wise strategy; I mean, I would never deny the Republicans are better at playing the game -- is to somehow present two faces to two different wings of the party and have them both say, "Oh, you know what, that's my guy."
They've already, I think, shored up their right wing base: that's the stem cell people, that's the abortion, that's the gay marriage. All that stuff. Those people have nowhere to go; they're not going to vote for Kerry.
Now they're trying to rope in some people who are sort of on the fence, that are uncomfortable with their conservativism on these social issues, and that's where Schwarzenegger and Guiliani come in.
COOPER: Is your vote for Kerry a vote against Bush, or is it a vote for John Kerry?
MAHER: Well, it's both. I mean, I think John Kerry is a perfectly viable candidate. He's obviously proved that he's braver and stronger than the guy we've got. Braver and smarter, rather. You know, every time you vote for a guy before he's been a president, you're taking a chance to a degree. You're kind of just saying, "Look, I hope this guy turns out OK." And it could be that he doesn't. But, you know, in this election, that's a no-brainer for me, because I already have one guy's record to compare with. I know what George Bush has done, I don't know what Kerry will do. But I do feel that considering what the other guy already did, it's not a problem for me to decide on the unknown. I would rather take the devil I don't know in this race than the devil I do.
COOPER: Bill Maher. The show is "Realtime" on HBO. We're big fans of it here at "360." Thanks very much for joining us, Bill.
MAHER: Thank you, Anderson. Appreciate it.
COOPER: "360" next: the ketchup battle at the convention. The GOP takes on Heinz. We take that to the 'nth degree.
And first, today's buzz: would you vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger if he were allowed to run for president? Login to cnn.com/360. Cast your vote now. Results when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: And you're looking at a live picture from North Middletown Township, Pennsylvania.
President Bush has just arrived there with Senator John McCain, who's attending an event tonight. He will also be introducing his wife, First Lady Laura Bush, as she delivers a primetime speech.
The President will be appearing via video feed. His daughters, Jenna and Barbara Bush, will introduce him, then he will appear on the video monitor from Pennsylvania and then he will introduce his wife.
The President introduces his wife; she's expected to speak about her husband's vision and leadership with a look at her political life.
Here's CNN's Judy Woodruff.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOODRUFF: Laura Bush, demure no more. After four low-key years, the First Lady has thrown herself into the rough and tumble and not just as the warm, balanced to a wartime president.
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY AND WIFE OF GEORGE W. BUSH: Well, of course, Sacagawea, just like Aubrey...
WOODRUFF: Sure, she often finds herself among children. And she does spend lots of time talking about...
L. BUSH: ... our compassion.
Compassion.
... and compassion.
WOODRUFF: But more and more she is speaking up in forceful and often critical tones.
L. BUSH: I want to urge everybody here to reach out to voters around your state and to let them know how important it is that President Bush is reelected.
WOODRUFF: As the daughter of an Alzheimer's victim, she's weighed in on stem cells.
L. BUSH: The implication that cures for Alzheimer's are around the corner is just not right. And it's really not fair to the people who are watching a loved one suffer with this disease.
WOODRUFF: Asked if attack ads bashing John Kerry's Vietnam service are unfair, she replied, "Not really."
BUSH: I can't wait for the country to hear her speech.
WOODRUFF: Tonight, the First Lady steps into the biggest spotlight yet, with a primetime audience ready to hear her roar, or at least, turn up the volume.
Judy Woodruff, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: White House Chief of Staff Andy Card joins us in just a moment. Be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: We are back with White House Chief of Staff Andy Card. Thanks very much for being with us.
ANDY CARD, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: Anderson, it's great to be with you.
COOPER: There has been criticism that the Republicans are putting forward a moderate face that is not really representative of the party. Does the president agree with everything as written in the Republican Party platform?
CARD: No, no president that I know has ever agreed with everything that was in a Republican platform. But the president certainly understands where to take this country and he is not unhappy with the Republican Party platform.
COOPER: Because the Party platform says no gays in the military; it's against gay civil unions; it opposes abortion, no matter what..
CARD: I guarantee that there has never been a platform written where a president and/or vice president ever agreed with every word that was in it: Republican or Democrat.
COOPER: How important is Arnold Schwarzenegger to the party? He's going to be speaking here tonight.
CARD: He's a great leader for California. And he's a terrific leader for our party.
He's leading what would be the sixth largest country in the world and he's doing it as a Republican. And we're very glad to have his leadership in the Republican Party.
COOPER: There has been criticism, obviously the republicans have been leveling criticism against John Kerry for a long time as a flip- flopper. Democrats today saying George Bush flip-flopped yesterday saying the war on terrorism is not winnable. Today he said very clearly it is.
CARD: Well, you know what he was talking about was the war on terror is unlike any war the United States has been in. We can't say that there will be a head of state that shows up and says, "I'm ready to sign a peace treaty." Osama Bin Laden is not going to show up in a tent in the desert and say, "I'm ready to play it all in and sign this peace treaty."
Instead, we have to fight terrorism wherever it is. And we know that there are cells all over the world. There are some cells even in the United States and we're going to get them. We will prevail. We will win this war, but it's not like a traditional war against a nation state.
COOPER: What did you personally feel about some of the delegates who are wearing these Purple Heart bandaids last night?
CARD: I would not participate in that. I happen to respect everyone who has worn the uniform in the Armed Services, especially people who have earned a Purple Heart. And I just don't think it's appropriate for them to demonstrate that way, although it is a first amendment right, and I have taken an oath to support and defend that Constitution so that people can express themselves.
COOPER: I had read that First Lady Laura Bush had always vowed that she would never have to make a political speech. Tonight, she's making a major political address. What are we going to hear from her? How did the president get her to do it?
CARD: She, first of all, is a wonderful, wonderful person. She's a terrific person; she's a spectacular wife and we're lucky to have her as the First Lady of this country. She's going to give a great speech tonight; she'll talk about a different kind of speech for the American people. She'll talk about her relationship to the president and how she sees him doing his job.
COOPER: How involved is President Bush day-to-day in the reelection effort?
CARD: Well, he's out there campaigning. But his first job is to meet his oath of obligation to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. So, he's doing the job of president first, but he's running for reelection and he's going to do everything he can to get there.
COOPER: How closely does he monitor, moment-by-moment. CARD: Well, the doesn't pay that much attention to it; he's got a lot of campaign officials and they're doing a great job, but the president is very much part of this effort and he's out there to do everything he can to earn the trust of the American people, because the foundation that he has built for America is a solid one and he wants to make sure the building that is built on that foundation is one of open opportunity.
COOPER: White House Chief of Staff, Andy Card, thanks for joining us.
CARD: Anderson, thank you.
COOPER: OK, we go now, our coverage continues. Wolf Blitzer, Judy Woodruff and CNN's Jeff Greenfield -- Wolf.
END
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 31, 2004 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST: Good evening. I'm Anderson Cooper from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
GOP heavyweights prepare to take center stage tonight, and President Bush clarifies his position on the war on terror.
360 starts now.
The Terminator turned governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and First Lady Laura Bush take center stage in Madison Square Garden as the Republican convention enters day two.
Liz Cheney, daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney, joins me to talk about the gender gap, the marriage gap, and same-sex marriage.
The man who says whatever's on his mind, always outrageous, always outspoken. We go live one on one with sharp-tongued comedian Bill Maher.
And hostage horror. A dozen hostages murdered in Iraq. Are party politics overshadowing the coverage of the war?
ANNOUNCER: This is a special edition of ANDERSON COOPER 360, live from the Republican National Convention in New York.
COOPER: And good evening.
It is just being called to order here on day two of the Republican National Convention. If the November election comes down to who Americans think can better handle the war on terror, then events around the world today certainly show that the problem is not going away, and that it's not an issue just for Americans.
In Iraq, insurgents released video, which we will not show you, of the gruesome executions of 12 Nepalese workers who had been kidnapped just over a week ago. The group which claimed responsibility said that 12 were murdered because they cooperated with the United States.
In the southern Israel city of Bersheva, two bus bombings killed 16 people and wounded at least 93 others. The Palestinian group Hamas claimed responsibility.
And in Moscow, female -- police say a female suicide bomber killed nine people and wounded more than 50 others when she detonated a bomb outside a subway station. All of that as the president strongly countered his own words on the subject of winning the war on terror. Senior White House correspondent John King with more on that in a moment.
We'll also hear from national correspondent Kelly Wallace reporting on the evening's political heavyweight, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and senior political correspondent Candy Crowley, who has been following some personnel changes at the Kerry campaign.
Up first, John King -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, the president making his way here to New York. We will actually see him in the hall tonight via satellite feed. But out of the state today here, out of this convention hall, the president trying to clear up a bit of confusion about just what he thinks about the war on terror.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KING (voice-over): The day's most important speech was in Nashville, not New York.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We meet today at a time of war for our country, a war we did not start, yet one that we will win.
KING: The president's goal, get his convention back on script, after a detour of his own making. In an interview broadcast Monday, Mr. Bush said, "I don't think you can win the war on terror." Democrats called it a glaring admission of failure. The White House said it was nothing of the sort, but Mr. Bush chose his words much more carefully in a speech to the American Legion.
BUSH: In this different kind of war, we may never sit down at a peace table. But make no mistake about it, we are winning, and we will win.
KING: The president's wartime leadership will again be the convention's overriding primetime focus. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger disagrees with Mr. Bush's conservative stances on abortion and gay rights. But like Monday night's headliners, Governor Schwarzenegger will cast winning the war as the defining issue and say America has bounced back from the 9/11 attacks because of the perseverance, character, and leadership of the 43rd president of the United States, George W. Bush.
Twin daughters Barbara and Jenna joined First Lady Laura Bush in a visit to the convention hall to prepare for her primetime speech, which will include a defense for her husband's limits on embryonic stem cell research.
The Bush campaign called inappropriate Band-Aids some delegates wore to mock Democrat John Kerry's Vietnam Purple Heart and has also criticized the campaign law loophole allowing ads like the so-called swift boat veteran spots critical of Senator Kerry. Yet in an interview with CNN, top Bush political adviser Karl Rove embraced a central theme of those spots.
KARL ROVE, SENIOR BUSH ADVISER: It's (UNINTELLIGIBLE) frankly an insult to them to suggest that they were routinely (UNINTELLIGIBLE) war criminals, which is what he called them.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KING: Now, Anderson, the first lady will speak from the podium tonight. The two Bush daughters, the twin daughters, will speak from the floor. And the president of the United States will speak to the delegates here via satellite from Pennsylvania, introducing his wife, saying thank you -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, John King, thanks very much for that.
While John Kerry is taking a day off from campaigning, his campaign is being urged to make some big changes at the top. The moves come amid growing concerns from some Democratic analysts who fear that Kerry's response to the swift boat ads has been anything but swift.
Senior political correspondent Candy Crowley has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think the war on terror can be won?
SEN. JOHN KERRY, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Absolutely.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Off the island of Nantucket, some Democrats cringed watching their candidate answer a war on terror question while windsurfing. It is the least of their complaints.
On the eve of the fall campaign, as John Kerry closes his worst month of the general election, there are outside calls for him to make major changes in his staff.
Party sources and some elected officials say campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill, called into rescue Kerry during the primary season, is now on the receiving end of criticism that Kerry was too slow to respond to the swift boat attacks and that his campaign lacks definition and an overall strategy.
Two Democratic sources say Kerry himself has questioned whether the campaign has fought back hard enough. One party strategist with ties to the campaign describes the candidate and his wife as unhappy with the drift of things.
Inside the campaign, there is acknowledgement of a rough August and some slippage in the polls, but on and off the record, top-level aides insist there is no shakeup, major or otherwise, in the offing.
Several people, including former Clinton spokesman Joe Lockhart, were pulled on board a week ago to help with message. But the campaign portrays the additions as a way to beef up for the fall, as opposed to any problems with the way things are going.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: The crowd here, the Republican National Convention standing for the National Anthem. The singer is Gracie Rosenberg (ph) of Nashville, Tennessee.
Joining me now, Candy Crowley, here on the platform at the Republican National Convention -- Candy.
CROWLEY: Well, talking about this, the outside forces saying, Oh, my heavens, look at the -- what the polls are doing, the Kerry campaign didn't respond swiftly enough, I talked to one of the top advisers in the Kerry campaign, said, this is the peanut gallery. This, these are not people from inside the campaign, this outside the campaign, kind of chattering. We have a plan. We're moving forward. There will be absolutely no changes.
Now, again, you know, what's a big change, what's not? They are bringing some people on board. But they categorically deny that there's any kind of major stuff coming up.
COOPER: All right, Candy Crowley, thanks very much.
John Kerry is digging deep into his war chest for the election. Here's a quick news note. The Kerry campaign is spending a bundle, $45 million, for a 20-state advertising blitz. Now, those ads will run right up to election day on November 2.
You may not know this, but Arnold Schwarzenegger's first film was 1970's "Hercules in New York." Candy Crowley, of course, knows that. Thirty-four years later, Hercules returns to the Big Apple with the political might to match his muscle. The governor of California has a starring role in the Republican National Convention tonight, and he has never stood on a stage like the one he will take shortly.
National correspondent Kelly Wallace has a preview.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He got a firsthand look last night at the place where he will make his national political debut. In his speech just three hours from now, Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to say, "I'm proud to belong to the party of Lincoln, Roosevelt, Reagan, and Bush. To my fellow immigrants listening tonight, I want you to know how welcome you are in this party."
He's the rock star of the Republican Party, the action hero.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE TERMINATOR")
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, ACTOR: Hasta la vista, baby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Turned California governor, still using those Hollywood one-liners.
SCHWARZENEGGER: Thank you. And I'll be back. Thank you.
WALLACE: He's got sky-high popularity with Republicans, strong appeal with Democrats as well, which explains why President Bush, who didn't exactly embrace Arnold Schwarzenegger during California's historic recall, is more than happy to share the stage with him now.
BUSH: Some accuse us both of not being able to speak the language.
WALLACE: But they do have their differences. Schwarzenegger, unlike the president, is a social moderate, who supports gay rights, abortion rights, and gun control. And now he's following in the footsteps of another actor turned California governor, who made his way to the national political stage, the late former president Ronald Reagan. The difference? Unless the U.S. Constitution is changed, Austrian-born Schwarzenegger can't make the leap.
SCHWARZENEGGER: When I came to this country 35 years ago,...
WALLACE: There are risks in this partnership. The governor could be identified with a president enormously unpopular in his home state. Mr. Bush risks getting upstaged by a man who loves to make a splash.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: And Governor Schwarzenegger dropped by a Manhattan firehouse today. Just a short time ago, I spoke to an adviser who worked with Governor Schwarzenegger on his speech. I asked him how the governor is doing. He said he is prepped and ready and excited. Asked how he relaxed today, we're told he played his favorite game, and Anderson, that would be Some Chap (ph).
COOPER: I saw him at the podium. He did seem quite relaxed on video. Thanks very much, Kelly Wallace.
360 next, Arnold Schwarzenegger taking the podium. How important has he become to the president's reelection? Well, Paul Begala and Bob Novak go 360 in tonight's "CROSSFIRE."
Plus, the first lady takes center stage tonight, Laura Bush in the rough-and-tumble world of politics.
Also ahead tonight, a conversations with Liz Cheney, Ralph Nader, and Bill Maher, our special guests.
First, a look at who's up at the podium tonight.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: One of the driving strategies of the Bush-Cheney campaign is to hammer home their position that John Kerry flip-flops on issues. True or not, it was a key theme of Rudy Giuliani's primetime convention speech last night. He said, and I quote, "John Kerry has made it the rule to change his position, not the exception."
Today, as we know, the president set out to clear up any confusion that he may have caused about his commitment to finishing the war on terror. Does this qualify as a flip-flop? Let's put that question in the "CROSSFIRE."
Joining me, "CROSSFIRE" co-hosts Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson.
Tucker, did the president flip-flop today?
TUCKER CARLSON, CO-HOST, "CROSSFIRE": Oh, I don't know. I mean, it's hard to know exactly what he meant in his NBC interview. He may have been making some sort of deeper philosophical point that we can never really defeat evil. It's been with us since the beginning of time, and it's probably going to be with us till the very end of time. And maybe that's what he's saying.
But, you know, his position has been pretty clear from the beginning. In fact, he's been attacked for it, that we're in this worldwide campaign against terrorism, and that we're going to win. People have said that's too ambitious. He's said that all along.
Again, I don't know what he was talking about yesterday, but his position generally has been pretty clear, I think.
COOPER: Paul, would you characterize it as a flip-flop?
PAUL BEGALA, CO-HOST, "CROSSFIRE": Well, of course. But why not just tell the truth? Which is something it's difficult for this president to do. I don't know if it's ego or what. But he made a mistake. He said a spectacularly stupid thing, substantively and politically. He said, We can't win the war on terror. And now, he's not one to make deep philosophical points, to say the least. He's certainly not one to hide behind complexities and niceties of international law, which is what he's trying to do now.
He should just tell the truth, which is, you know what? I was off script, I didn't have Dick Cheney to tell me what to think. I didn't have a Teleprompter. And I really don't quite know what I'm doing, which is the message we got from that interview with NBC.
COOPER: Tucker, day two of this convention has slugged, I want to get it right, the compassion of the American people. You see signs around here that say "People of Compassion." Isn't this the same slogan, basically, I mean, sort of a retread of the compassionate (UNINTELLIGIBLE) conservatism we heard about in 2000?
CARLSON: Well, let me state up front, I'm not a person of compassion, so it's hard for me to know exactly what it means. But look, the message here is sort of the reverse of the message of the Democratic convention. Obviously, the message there was, sure, we're Democrats, we're not that scary. You know what I mean, we're not as liberal as we seem, or actually heroic Vietnam veterans with statuesque physiques.
The message here is, we may be Republicans, but, in fact, we're really nice, sort of warm, furry creatures.
I guess that, you know, that works. You -- it combats the kind of central image problem that the Republican Party has, which is that it's mean. I personally think the notion that the party is tough is its main selling point. But then, I'm not a sophisticated strategist, I guess.
COOPER: Paul, are you a sophisticated strategist?
BEGALA: A former sophisticated strategist. The problem is, for the second day in a row, George W. Bush is undermining the central message of this very well-scripted and well-executed convention. On day one, they wanted to show strong leadership against terrorism. Bush goes out and says we can't win the war on terrorism.
Tonight, they want to show compassionate conservatism. What does Bush do? He goes on the Rush Limbaugh show, not exactly the home of compassion. Rush Limbaugh famously once told an African-American caller, and I'm quoting here, "Take that bone out of your nose." Not exactly a people-of-compassion kind of statement. No, you don't -- you can't have it both ways.
(CROSSTALK)
BEGALA: ... go on this kook radio show.
CARLSON: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), look, it's not a kook radio show.
BEGALA: It's a nut radio show.
CARLSON: I mean, look, the, you know, the guy's telling jokes. I mean, I must say...
BEGALA: He's not telling jokes. He's a racist (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
CARLSON: ... if there's one issue that divides the -- no, that divides the party -- He's not a racist, please.
BEGALA: He's a racist (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
CARLSON: That's a pretty tired throwback, so I think that's not working.
BEGALA: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) tell a black (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
CARLSON: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) about 1984. But let me, let me -- oh, no, let me just say one thing. If there's one issue that does divide the party, it's humor. You have on the one side this kind of relentless, harsh, grim, dour humorlessness. And on the other side, you know, I don't know, Rush Limbaugh, whatever you think of him, he's pretty amusing. It doesn't make Bush a hater for going on his show, I mean, it's pretty (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
BEGALA: I will say this, I will say this. Unlike President Bush, Rush Limbaugh does have a prescription drug plan. So, you know, (UNINTELLIGIBLE). CARLSON: Oh, come on.
BEGALA: Oh, that's humor, Tucker. I thought you wanted humor.
CARLSON: Come on, Paul, please...
BEGALA: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
CARLSON: ... give the guy a break. I mean, Bush actually...
BEGALA: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
CARLSON: You know what? You just...
BEGALA: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE) my president has no business going on that divisive, hatemonger show...
CARLSON: You've got to be...
BEGALA: ... particularly when their message is on compassionate.
COOPER: Paul, it's one of the most popular radio shows in America.
BEGALA: Yes, and?
CARLSON: It's so over the top. I mean, come on, look, Rush Limbaugh is not getting up there claiming that the United States is a bad, deeply flawed, fundamentally flawed country that we went to say war in Afghanistan to protect the interests of oil companies. I mean, come on, he's not saying things like that. The guy's a little over the top sometime, but to call him a hater is just untrue.
COOPER: Final thought, Paul Begala, then we've got to go.
BEGALA: The president is undermining his own message. What little hair Karl Rove has left, he is pulling out, because Bush unscripted is a very scary thing. They can't wait till they get him in Madison Square Garden, get him under wraps, get him under script, and have him read carefully the words other people write for him on the plates on the teleprompter screens. And then Karl will be able to sleep.
COOPER: Tucker, I'll let your sigh be your response.
CARLSON: Yes, Bush, Bush, I guess my point is just that Bush is deeply evil. Paul is absolutely right. I give up, I'm going home.
BEGALA: No, he's just (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
CARLSON: Thanks, very, very, evil, very evil.
BEGALA: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
COOPER: Tucker Carlson, Paul Begala...
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: ... thanks, guys.
Arnold Schwarzer (ph) has become major star in the Republican Party, no doubt about it. Still, the governor of California, who was born in Austria, won't find much support here for changing the Constitution to allow him to run for the White House.
The "National Journal" asked 44 Republican insiders, Should the Constitution be amended to allow foreign-born citizens to run? Twenty-nine insiders said no, only 15 yes.
Today's buzz is this, what do you think? Would you vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger if he were allowed to run for president? Log onto CNN.com/360, cast your vote. Results at the end of the program.
And as the delegates begin the, begin, Vice President Dick Cheney's daughter Liz is going to join me to talk politics, and how her family deals with the same-sex marriage debate. Delegates are beginning the roll call.
Also tonight, the first lady center stage, Laura Bush on the personal side of the man she wants to get elected.
And a little later, a man some claim is playing into GOP hands, presidential candidate Ralph Nader, a frank talk with him about why he's still running, why he thinks Republicans are giving him money.
We'll also go 360 with Bill Maher, always uncensored, always outspoken. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: And it is just a formality, of course, these days, but the real reason why the delegates are here in New York is to nominate a presidential candidate. They started voting yesterday through state-by-state roll call. President Bush needs 1,255 votes for the nomination. He'll be expected to reach that mark tonight, thanks to the Pennsylvania delegation. Right now, he's at North Dakota. Let's listen in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... we're a major energy state, the sixth- largest energy-producing state in the country. We're the home of Sacakawea (ph), a young native woman who led Lewis and Clark on their journey of discovery. Come visit us in North Dakota.
We're proud to be with you tonight and to cast all 26 of our votes on behalf of our current president, and our future president, George W. Bush.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: North Dakota, 26 votes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ohio has 91 votes.
GOV. BOB TAFT (R), OHIO: Mr. Secretary, I'm Governor Bob Taft of Ohio, the Buckeye State, which helped elect our great president four years ago, and will help reelect him this year.
Ohio passes. Thank you, Mr. Secretary.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: State of Ohio, 91 votes, pass.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oklahoma has 41 votes.
SEN. DON NICKLES (R), OKLAHOMA: Mr. President, Oklahoma has 41 votes. I'm Senator Don Nichols. For the last nine presidential elections, Oklahoma has voted Republican. I have every confidence that in comparing President George Bush and Senator John Kerry, that Oklahoma will make it 10 in a row. We will vote overwhelmingly to reelect President George W. Bush as our president.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oklahoma, 41 votes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oregon has 31 votes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Secretary, I am Kevin Mannix (ph), proud to be chairman of the Oregon delegation...
COOPER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) roll call vote. After that will be Pennsylvania. That is expected to push the president over the top, giving him the votes he needs from the delegates assembled at this convention. We'll listen in through Pennsylvania.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... Republican-led 1955 legislature, and a Republican governor passed comprehensive civil rights legislation 10 years before the Congress of the United States. Oregon proud to have a progressive tradition, but also proud to be willing to work hard this year to win Oregon for our great president, George W. Bush. Oregon respectfully passes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oregon, 31 votes, pass.
COOPER: Pennsylvania is next, Pennsylvania expect to put...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pennsylvania, 75 votes.
COOPER: ... the president over the top. Let's listen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Secretary, greetings from the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania has a proud tradition of leading America. The Declaration of Independence was born in Pennsylvania. Our nation's homeland security is led By Pennsylvania's own Tom Ridge. And on November 2, Pennsylvania again will lead and win for George W. Bush.
Now, I've heard (UNINTELLIGIBLE) called a swing state, and I've heard Pennsylvania called a red state and a blue state. But America, Pennsylvania is a George W. Bush state. The Pennsylvania delegation is honored to cast its 75 votes for President George W. Bush.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pennsylvania, with 75 votes, puts us over the top for George W. Bush. COOPER: That was Renee Amoore, the delegation chair for Pennsylvania, casting her delegation's votes. And now President Bush has enough votes from all the delegates assembled here. A formality, but all part of the tradition of this convention.
Vice President Dick Cheney caused a stir last week when he publicly disagreed with President Bush's call for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. He still says he supports the president's decision.
A rare moment in the spotlight for a man who prefers to stay behind the scenes. If there were hard feelings, they appear to have dissipated. The vice president has had a very public role inside Madison Square Garden, receiving warm ovations several times yesterday.
Tomorrow night, the spotlight is on him again, when he re-accepts and he accepts his renomination. Earlier today, I had a chance to speak with Dick Cheney's daughter Liz, a key player in his campaign. I began by asking her about the importance of female voters and what women are looking for, especially in terms of security and the war in Iraq.
LIZ CHENEY, DICK CHENEY'S DAUGHTER: What I hear from women as I travel around the country is very much they want a leader who's got political courage to make tough decisions. And they want to know that you -- they've got somebody who's steadfast and who's going to do the right thing.
And the fact that Senator Kerry has taken different positions just within the last few months on the issue of the war makes people very nervous. (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
COOPER: When you say taken different positions, you mean what specifically?
CHENEY: I mean voting for the authorization to go to war, then voting against the $87 billion to support the troops, to pay for body armor, to pay for ammunition for them, then saying himself that he voted for the $87 billion before he voted against the $87 billion...
COOPER: But, but, I mean...
CHENEY: ... then saying he was the antiwar candidate, and...
COOPER: Well, but he, he's arguing that what he was actually voting for was that he wanted to give money to support the troops, it wasn't a vote against supporting troops, it was a vote against keeping the tax cuts as they were, not using -- not repealing some of the tax cuts in order to pay for that.
CHENEY: You know, I, what he said is that it's complicated. And I think what President Bush believes is that when you're at war, the issue of money to support the troops, money to pay for their ammunition and their body armor and the tools they need to do the job once you have sent them to war, should never be complicated. COOPER: Some of the weapons systems that the Republicans have criticized Senator Kerry or alleged that Senator Kerry wanted to cancel in the mid-'90s, the earlier than that, are some of the very, which he denies he wanted to do that. He says it was more of a budget issue. Are some of the very same weapons systems that your dad voted to rule out.
CHENEY: Well, I think you have to look at the timing. I think that when my dad was secretary of defense, it was as the cold war was ending. We clearly were ratcheting back. There were a lot of weapons systems that we did not need then because the threat from the Soviet Union was gone. So I think you have to look at timing.
With Senator Kerry, for example, he voted to cut our intelligence budget in the very weeks after the first bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993. So you have a consistent record all along of Senator Kerry voting against weapons systems, voting for a nuclear freeze...
COOPER: But he argues it was that issue of timing, and it was more of a cold war thing. And in fact, then the Republicans the following year cut a billion dollars from the intelligence budget.
CHENEY: You know, I -- it -- his argument doesn't work if you go back and look at the dates. It's been throughout his entire career in the U.S. Senate that he has been either wavering with the political winds or coming down on the side of cutting weapons systems, not supporting our intelligence functions.
You know, and I think it's an issue that he doesn't want us to look at too closely, frankly. I mean, you saw at their convention the real focus was on his service in Vietnam, and not on his 30 years of service since then. And a record that really requires a very close look.
COOPER: Well, I don't want to get too much into this. He argues, just to represent his side, he argues, of course, that throughout his career, he's actually been supportive of a lot of these weapons systems.
But that's obviously a point of contention.
CHENEY: He should get you as a surrogate, Anderson.
COOPER: Well, no, I, hey, I'm just playing devil's advocate here. It's my job.
I want to talk about the gay marriage amendment. The other -- a week ago, your dad said this publicly. I want to show just what he said for our audience.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: People ought to be able free -- ought to be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to. The question that comes up with respect to the issue of marriage is, what kind of official sanction or approval is going to be granted by government, if you will, to particular relationships?
Historically, that's been a relationship that's been handled by the states...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Were you surprised that he said that, that publicly? Because previously he had said he supports the president's position, which, of course, he still says he does. But it was a very personal statement.
L. CHENEY: No, I wasn't surprised. I mean, you know, that's the Dick Cheney that I know, to talk about Mary and also to talk about how proud he is of both his daughters. I thought it was very touching. And I think he was very clear about his position, but also clear about saying that the president sets the policy, the president is in favor of the constitutional amendment and my dad supports the president in that.
COOPER: For you personally, is it a hard issue to deal with?
L. CHENEY: I think it's an issue that, you know, deserves discussion, deserves debate. It's an issue that I'm comfortable with what my dad said in Iowa a couple of weeks ago.
But it's also, frankly, not an issue that we spend a lot of time as a family talking about. We're really focused on the future and we're really focused on the stakes in this election. We're focused on national security and we're focused on the economy.
And when we talk about policy, that's really, you know, what we talk about and what we spend our time on. And I think that's what's going to decide this election.
COOPER: Thanks very much.
L. CHENEY: Great to be here. Thanks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Well, that was Liz Cheney, daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney.
"360" next: counterspin, Ralph Nader sounds off on the Republicans and Democrats and his own bid to take over the White House. We talk to him.
Plus, Bill Maher unplugged; the president's chief of staff; also Andy Card will join us.
We are live from Madison Square Garden. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Many images from the GOP. Welcome back to "360's" coverage of the second night of the Republican National Convention here at Madison Square Garden. I'm joined by CNN's Wolf Blitzer and CNN's Judy Woodruff, who I'll be passing the torch off to in half an hour.
What are you both going to be listening to tonight?
WOLF BLITZER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm going to be very interested in Michael Steele. He's a rising African-American politician, the lieutenant governor of Maryland. They put him in the 10:00 p.m. Eastern hour to really kick off the big hour when the three broadcast networks are taking this situation live here at the convention.
I want to hear what he has to say. Some suggest he's the Republican version of Barack Obama.
COOPER: And a name the national audience really hasn't heard.
Judy, what are you going to be...
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm putting myself in the shoes of the viewer at home, Anderson. I'm going to be listening for Arnold Schwarzenegger. I mean, this is a big deal for him to come to a national convention and make a speech. I think it's going to be a very moving speech. We've already seen part of what he's going to say.
And I think Mrs. Bush's speech, Laura Bush, the First Lady, we're going to hear a little bit more about the softer side of George W. Bush. This is the night when they present the likable side of George Bush. And that's what we're going to be listening to.
BLITZER: And we're also hear from the twins, Barbara and Jenna Bush.
COOPER: That should be interesting. They're going to introduce their dad, who by video, will introduce their mom. Should be an interesting night indeed.
Judy, Wolf, we'll talk to you shortly.
The president arrives here on Thursday, but there's already a presidential candidate at the convention: Ralph Nader. Many Democrats blame him, of course, for the 2000 election outcome. Many will blame him if John Kerry loses in November.
The Independent candidate wants the Democrats, basically, off his back. He also wants Republicans to know they can't use him to reelect George Bush, because he says that the last thing this country needs.
Ralph Nader joined me for an exclusive interview earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: The latest "Washington Post"/ABC News poll shows that you are only getting 1 percent of votes among likely voters. Just yesterday, Pennsylvania's judges said you cannot run as an Independent. You're only on the ballot in a few states. Is there any chance you're going to drop out?
RALPH NADER, INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No, not at all. As a matter of fact, we're getting 4 or 5 percent in some polls, like "Time Magazine" and we're going to win a lot of those lawsuits that are just obstructive, unconstitutional assaults on our ballot access rights brought by democratic dirty trick specialists.
COOPER: What are you trying to prove?
NADER: We're trying to show the American people a brand of politics that cares about them. As workers, living wage, as patients, health insurance coverage, as a fair tax system, getting out of the war in Iraq with a responsible six-month withdrawal and a crackdown on corporate crime, fraud and abuse.
COOPER: But, I mean of those who support Kerry, who say, "Look, you can't win. You're just taking votes away from Kerry," you say?
NADER: I say we all have an equal right to run. The American people want more voices and choices. They want authentic agenda based on 40 years of working hard for the health, safety and well-being of Americans. Which is what I've done and what my running mate, Peter Miguel Camejo's done.
COOPER: Do you fear at all, though -- I mean, Howard Dean, I was talking to him a while back -- and he was saying that you risk tarnishing your legacy; that you have this remarkable legacy of activism and working on behalf of consumers, and that you risk tarnishing that.
NADER: No, what we're trying to do is extend it. Right now, citizen groups are shut out of Washington, D.C., which is corporate- occupied territory. With more parties converging more and more, giving this country over to giant business, which has no allegiance to our country other than to control it or abandon it.
We're trying to put the people back into politics and show a caring politics, not phony patriotism like some of the Republicans are spouting, while they caress the public, but they do the dirty work for big business in taking over the country.
COOPER: But you know the argument that some Republicans are giving you money to take votes away from John Kerry.
NADER: That's not true.
We're resisting all organized Republican help. We want both parties to get off our backs; don't entangle our campaign with their mischievous schemes and let us compete for the American people.
Including: I think President Bush has a lot of explaining to do to conservative Republicans who are pretty upset over things like giant deficits, over things like sovereignty, shredding WTO and NAFTA; corporate welfare: their tax is going to corporate subsidies... COOPER: And do you think you can get some of those...
NADER: ... and the big government PATRIOT Act.
Yes.
COOPER: You think you can get some of the conservative Republicans?
NADER: Yes, indeed. Because I think he's not explaining why he's betrayed conservative principles and why he doesn't want any conservatives on the podium.
COOPER: From what you saw last night, what jumped out at you?
NADER: I think a lot of empty rhetoric. I think this is basically one giant, corporate party with corporate hospitality suites, wining and dining and pledging contributions in return for more political favors, so that we have a government of the Exxons by the General Motors for the Duponts.
And I think it's really sad that the taxpayer has to pony up $13 million to $15 million to support this convention because the two parties in Congress passed the law tabbing the taxpayer to do that.
COOPER: As you look at the issues that you think is actually going to bring people to the polls, what are those issues? What is the key issue?
NADER: The big one is the biggest swing state for Bush: it's called Iraq. That's going to be a big issue.
COOPER: You think Iraq more than the economy?
NADER: Probably about the same.
I think basically Iraq, the quagmire, the casualties for our troops, the increasing destruction over there, but the economy's big, too. Look at the latest figures. More people without health insurance; more children growing up in poverty; more people without jobs. It's bad all the way around here; except for the rich.
COOPER: Have you talked to John Kerry lately?
NADER: I talked to him about six weeks ago and I cautioned him to come down hard on these dirty tricks, because he may be faced with a mini Watergate scandal. The press is already beginning to go into these areas where they're obstructing us, intimidating our signature gatherers, harassing them.
COOPER: You claim the Democrats are harassing you?
NADER: Yes, and it comes right from the Democratic National Committee, Terry McAuliffe himself told me that he wouldn't call it dirty tricks. He said he's going to try to obstruct us from getting on the ballot in maybe 16 to 20 states. COOPER: How many states do you think you're actually going to be on the ballot?
NADER: I think we'll be on about 40 state ballots, plus the District of Columbia, but not without a great effort against the Democrats who are telling millions of Americans that they're not going to have the opportunity to vote for candidates of our choice, namely the Nader-Camejo ticket. That's pretty anti-democratic for a party to call itself democratic.
COOPER: Well, they're saying that a vote for you basically ends up being a vote for President Bush?
NADER: Well, the way to do it is compete. I beg to differ. I think that we're going to get many more votes from people who voted for Bush in 2000, because they're so furious with him over the deficits and all the other things I mentioned.
And the liberal Democrats are abandoning us in droves. So, if they want to vote for Kerry, I just have one bit of advice: don't give him a free ride; if you don't make Kerry better by demanding something of him, he's going to turn out worse, because the corporate interests are always pulling in one direction. It's important for Democrats to pull in the other toward the people of this country.
COOPER: Ralph Nader, thanks very much.
NADER: You're welcome.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Wow, Ralph Nader.
"360" next: live, one-on-one with White House Chief of Staff Andy Card on President Bush's campaign. Plus, the outspoken Bill Maher: hear what he has to say about the battle for the White House.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Anyone who watches "Realtime" with Bill Maher and HBO knows that Maher's a political provocateur with a sharp wit and even sharper teeth. In '96 he said he voted for Dole; in 2000 Ralph Nader; this time around he says he's voting for Kerry. He joins me now from Los Angeles.
Bill, thanks for being with us.
MAHER: Ah, you've reviewed my voting record.
COOPER: I did. I had our crack research team do that. It's a pretty interesting voting record.
And I want to ask you about Ralph Nader. Before I do though, I want to show a clip from your show "Realtime" where you and Michael Moore are trying to convince Ralph Nader not to run. Let's show this clip.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAHER: Michael and I are going to get down on our knees and beg you not to run. Please. Please. Please. Please.
MICHAEL MOORE, FILM DIRECTOR: Please, Ralph!
MAHER: Please Ralph, don't run for president. Because you're a great American, don't run. Please!
MOORE: Don't do this to the country. Don't do this.
MAHER: Please!
MOORE: Don't do this Ralph!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Bill, apparently it didn't work.
MAHER: No. It shows the effect I have on people: nil.
COOPER: What you also, at one point, gave Ralph Nader a picture of O.J. Simpson. Why?
MAHER: Right. That was right in that same segment there. Because I wanted Ralph to understand that sometimes a lifetime of achievement can sort of be overshadowed by making just one mistake.
COOPER: And you think he should get out of the race at this point?
MAHER: Are we talking about O.J. or Ralph Nader?
Well, we asked Ralph, in the interest of, we think, our country if he would reconsider. Not because we don't love Ralph and not because Ralph isn't right about everything. I just heard your interview with him. Of course he's right. And that's what I said to him.
Ralph, sometimes you can be right and not be correct. It's a very fine distinction. But it's one that I personally learned after the year 2000. And I thought, looking back at my vote in 2000 for Ralph Nader, it was kind of a bratty thing to do, to throw up our hands and say, "Oh, you know what, who cares if there's the lesser of two evils?" Well, a lot of places don't have that luxury.
There is a lesser of two evils. And you've got to opt for that.
COOPER: I read that after the Democratic convention you said you were exhausted by optimism. After the first night of this convention, anything exhaust you yet? MAHER: Yes. Well, I was exhausted by the fact that they were talking about how optimistic they were and having this childish contest with the other party to decide who is more optimistic.
You know, I'm a realist. I think what we need is more realism and less optimism. Optimism is great if it's well-founded. If they're just pulling it out of their rear end, then I don't see the point.
COOPER: Are you hearing realism...
MAHER: This country was founded on a very pessimistic document, the Constitution. It's full of checks of balances...
COOPER: Are you hearing realism from the Republicans?
MAHER: Well, of course, not, it's a political convention. Come on, it's a marketing tool. I mean, they're there to impress people with their program, and they don't really feel the need to stick to the truth. But, you know, when did politicians ever feel that need?
COOPER: What do you think has been -- I mean, the criticism so far of this convention has been that they're putting a very moderate face on the Republican Party. Do you think that's fair?
MAHER: Of course it is. This is the party, really, of John Ashcroft and Dick Cheney and George Bush and Tom DeLay. And, you know, that's not what they want to present to the American public this week because they're trying to get those swing voters, the three of them that are left in America, to come over to their side.
I think their strategy -- and I think it's a wise strategy; I mean, I would never deny the Republicans are better at playing the game -- is to somehow present two faces to two different wings of the party and have them both say, "Oh, you know what, that's my guy."
They've already, I think, shored up their right wing base: that's the stem cell people, that's the abortion, that's the gay marriage. All that stuff. Those people have nowhere to go; they're not going to vote for Kerry.
Now they're trying to rope in some people who are sort of on the fence, that are uncomfortable with their conservativism on these social issues, and that's where Schwarzenegger and Guiliani come in.
COOPER: Is your vote for Kerry a vote against Bush, or is it a vote for John Kerry?
MAHER: Well, it's both. I mean, I think John Kerry is a perfectly viable candidate. He's obviously proved that he's braver and stronger than the guy we've got. Braver and smarter, rather. You know, every time you vote for a guy before he's been a president, you're taking a chance to a degree. You're kind of just saying, "Look, I hope this guy turns out OK." And it could be that he doesn't. But, you know, in this election, that's a no-brainer for me, because I already have one guy's record to compare with. I know what George Bush has done, I don't know what Kerry will do. But I do feel that considering what the other guy already did, it's not a problem for me to decide on the unknown. I would rather take the devil I don't know in this race than the devil I do.
COOPER: Bill Maher. The show is "Realtime" on HBO. We're big fans of it here at "360." Thanks very much for joining us, Bill.
MAHER: Thank you, Anderson. Appreciate it.
COOPER: "360" next: the ketchup battle at the convention. The GOP takes on Heinz. We take that to the 'nth degree.
And first, today's buzz: would you vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger if he were allowed to run for president? Login to cnn.com/360. Cast your vote now. Results when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: And you're looking at a live picture from North Middletown Township, Pennsylvania.
President Bush has just arrived there with Senator John McCain, who's attending an event tonight. He will also be introducing his wife, First Lady Laura Bush, as she delivers a primetime speech.
The President will be appearing via video feed. His daughters, Jenna and Barbara Bush, will introduce him, then he will appear on the video monitor from Pennsylvania and then he will introduce his wife.
The President introduces his wife; she's expected to speak about her husband's vision and leadership with a look at her political life.
Here's CNN's Judy Woodruff.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOODRUFF: Laura Bush, demure no more. After four low-key years, the First Lady has thrown herself into the rough and tumble and not just as the warm, balanced to a wartime president.
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY AND WIFE OF GEORGE W. BUSH: Well, of course, Sacagawea, just like Aubrey...
WOODRUFF: Sure, she often finds herself among children. And she does spend lots of time talking about...
L. BUSH: ... our compassion.
Compassion.
... and compassion.
WOODRUFF: But more and more she is speaking up in forceful and often critical tones.
L. BUSH: I want to urge everybody here to reach out to voters around your state and to let them know how important it is that President Bush is reelected.
WOODRUFF: As the daughter of an Alzheimer's victim, she's weighed in on stem cells.
L. BUSH: The implication that cures for Alzheimer's are around the corner is just not right. And it's really not fair to the people who are watching a loved one suffer with this disease.
WOODRUFF: Asked if attack ads bashing John Kerry's Vietnam service are unfair, she replied, "Not really."
BUSH: I can't wait for the country to hear her speech.
WOODRUFF: Tonight, the First Lady steps into the biggest spotlight yet, with a primetime audience ready to hear her roar, or at least, turn up the volume.
Judy Woodruff, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: White House Chief of Staff Andy Card joins us in just a moment. Be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: We are back with White House Chief of Staff Andy Card. Thanks very much for being with us.
ANDY CARD, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: Anderson, it's great to be with you.
COOPER: There has been criticism that the Republicans are putting forward a moderate face that is not really representative of the party. Does the president agree with everything as written in the Republican Party platform?
CARD: No, no president that I know has ever agreed with everything that was in a Republican platform. But the president certainly understands where to take this country and he is not unhappy with the Republican Party platform.
COOPER: Because the Party platform says no gays in the military; it's against gay civil unions; it opposes abortion, no matter what..
CARD: I guarantee that there has never been a platform written where a president and/or vice president ever agreed with every word that was in it: Republican or Democrat.
COOPER: How important is Arnold Schwarzenegger to the party? He's going to be speaking here tonight.
CARD: He's a great leader for California. And he's a terrific leader for our party.
He's leading what would be the sixth largest country in the world and he's doing it as a Republican. And we're very glad to have his leadership in the Republican Party.
COOPER: There has been criticism, obviously the republicans have been leveling criticism against John Kerry for a long time as a flip- flopper. Democrats today saying George Bush flip-flopped yesterday saying the war on terrorism is not winnable. Today he said very clearly it is.
CARD: Well, you know what he was talking about was the war on terror is unlike any war the United States has been in. We can't say that there will be a head of state that shows up and says, "I'm ready to sign a peace treaty." Osama Bin Laden is not going to show up in a tent in the desert and say, "I'm ready to play it all in and sign this peace treaty."
Instead, we have to fight terrorism wherever it is. And we know that there are cells all over the world. There are some cells even in the United States and we're going to get them. We will prevail. We will win this war, but it's not like a traditional war against a nation state.
COOPER: What did you personally feel about some of the delegates who are wearing these Purple Heart bandaids last night?
CARD: I would not participate in that. I happen to respect everyone who has worn the uniform in the Armed Services, especially people who have earned a Purple Heart. And I just don't think it's appropriate for them to demonstrate that way, although it is a first amendment right, and I have taken an oath to support and defend that Constitution so that people can express themselves.
COOPER: I had read that First Lady Laura Bush had always vowed that she would never have to make a political speech. Tonight, she's making a major political address. What are we going to hear from her? How did the president get her to do it?
CARD: She, first of all, is a wonderful, wonderful person. She's a terrific person; she's a spectacular wife and we're lucky to have her as the First Lady of this country. She's going to give a great speech tonight; she'll talk about a different kind of speech for the American people. She'll talk about her relationship to the president and how she sees him doing his job.
COOPER: How involved is President Bush day-to-day in the reelection effort?
CARD: Well, he's out there campaigning. But his first job is to meet his oath of obligation to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. So, he's doing the job of president first, but he's running for reelection and he's going to do everything he can to get there.
COOPER: How closely does he monitor, moment-by-moment. CARD: Well, the doesn't pay that much attention to it; he's got a lot of campaign officials and they're doing a great job, but the president is very much part of this effort and he's out there to do everything he can to earn the trust of the American people, because the foundation that he has built for America is a solid one and he wants to make sure the building that is built on that foundation is one of open opportunity.
COOPER: White House Chief of Staff, Andy Card, thanks for joining us.
CARD: Anderson, thank you.
COOPER: OK, we go now, our coverage continues. Wolf Blitzer, Judy Woodruff and CNN's Jeff Greenfield -- Wolf.
END
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
