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CNN Live Today
The Democrats Debate
Aired October 10, 2003 - 10:30 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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: CNN senior political correspondent, analyst, William Schneider joins us from Los Angeles on the morning after the dust-up. William Schneider -- we are very formal this morning, Bill. Good morning to you.
So what did you think of Wesley Clark's performance last night?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, he was thrown on the defensive by Joe Lieberman and some other Democrats in the debate. He entered the debate with a sort of enhanced stature, former supreme allied commander, a guy who seemed larger than all the other Democrats, and I thought they were trying to cut him down to size. General Clark defended himself, and he did it, I think, pretty effectively.
Here's one of the statements he made as his tactic of self- defense.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WESLEY CLARK (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Americans believe that they selects a compassionate conservative. Instead we had a guy who has deepened the deficits, he's taken us recklessly into war, and he's been a radical, not a compassionate conservative. That's why the American people want change.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHNEIDER: Well, what he was saying was, I was fooled by bush and his administration, just like most Americans were. The problem is a lot of Democrats say, you were fooled by Bush? We weren't fooled by Bush, we never supported him.
LIN: Bill, we're having some tape problems here. So what did Gephardt actually say?
SCHNEIDER: Well, what Dick Gephardt said, he did, I think, something very interesting. These candidates were playing to a Democratic primary audience, voters who are strong partisans, very liberal. Dick Gephardt made a very powerful pitch by running on the one best issues Democrats have to run on, and that is Bill Clinton's economic record. A lot of Democrats criticized Al Gore for not running strongly enough on the Clinton record. Gephardt depended himself as a figure from Washington.
Howard Dean is also always saying all the other Democrats are Washington Democrats, I'm different. But Gephardt said, you know what we Washington Democrats did? We produced the best economy in this country in 50 years. We're proud of it. We suffered to produce that economy. We voted for a budget and tax increases. We lost control of the Congress, but by God, we did something, and he was pointing with pride to that Democratic record. That may be the best issue Democrats have, and Gephardt used it pretty effectively.
LIN: You can almost imagine how each of the candidates were just salivating to deliver their punch lines last night? Were there any memorable moments for you?
SCHNEIDER: There were some good moments. I thought there was a moment when Joe Lieberman scored off General Wesley Clark. Dick Gephardt scored off the Republicans. And a particularly good zinger was gotten off by John Kerry against a figure that liberals love to hate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK GEPHARDT (D-MO), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We know how to do this, they do not. If you want to live like a Republican, you got to vote for the Democrats.
SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D-CT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Welcome to the Democratic presidential campaign.
(LAUGHTER)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There are two ways to have lower prescription drug costs. One is, you could hire Rush Limbaugh's housekeeper.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
KERRY: Or you could elect me president of the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHNEIDER: Only one comment, ouch!
LIN: Oh, boy, no one is spared. All right, SO any standouts here? Or is it too early to tell in the crowd?
SCHNEIDER: Well, I thought -- I don't think anyone just sort of jumped off this -- out of this debate. I thought basically you're seeing a kind of mush of Democrats, all of whom had a certain amount of stature. I think they all had a certain problem connecting with those voters. The debate allowed ordinary voters to ask questions, and as they did, I kept thinking, what they really need is a Bill Clinton, who can connect with voters. Each of those candidates had some set speeches. You could see them going in with talking points.
There was a voter who asked about why this dome people in the world hate the United States? Can you explain it? What can do you about it? another voter said she was a small businesswoman, and she talked about the problems that she faced. Another talked about how much she had to suffer and sacrifice for her prescription drug costs. And I kept thinking, boy, if Bill Clinton could go in there and hit that out of the park. Instead these candidates came out and they gave their talking points, and I think they have some problems connecting with voters, but they're learning.
LIN: Yes, it's a little like reporters memorizing their live shots. You know, it never really quite breaks through to the audience. We'll see what happens in this race.
SCHNEIDER: That's their problem.
LIN: Thank, Bill Schneider, good to see you.
SCHNEIDER: Sure, Carol.
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 October 10, 2003 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: CNN senior political correspondent, analyst, William Schneider joins us from Los Angeles on the morning after the dust-up. William Schneider -- we are very formal this morning, Bill. Good morning to you.
So what did you think of Wesley Clark's performance last night?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, he was thrown on the defensive by Joe Lieberman and some other Democrats in the debate. He entered the debate with a sort of enhanced stature, former supreme allied commander, a guy who seemed larger than all the other Democrats, and I thought they were trying to cut him down to size. General Clark defended himself, and he did it, I think, pretty effectively.
Here's one of the statements he made as his tactic of self- defense.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WESLEY CLARK (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Americans believe that they selects a compassionate conservative. Instead we had a guy who has deepened the deficits, he's taken us recklessly into war, and he's been a radical, not a compassionate conservative. That's why the American people want change.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHNEIDER: Well, what he was saying was, I was fooled by bush and his administration, just like most Americans were. The problem is a lot of Democrats say, you were fooled by Bush? We weren't fooled by Bush, we never supported him.
LIN: Bill, we're having some tape problems here. So what did Gephardt actually say?
SCHNEIDER: Well, what Dick Gephardt said, he did, I think, something very interesting. These candidates were playing to a Democratic primary audience, voters who are strong partisans, very liberal. Dick Gephardt made a very powerful pitch by running on the one best issues Democrats have to run on, and that is Bill Clinton's economic record. A lot of Democrats criticized Al Gore for not running strongly enough on the Clinton record. Gephardt depended himself as a figure from Washington.
Howard Dean is also always saying all the other Democrats are Washington Democrats, I'm different. But Gephardt said, you know what we Washington Democrats did? We produced the best economy in this country in 50 years. We're proud of it. We suffered to produce that economy. We voted for a budget and tax increases. We lost control of the Congress, but by God, we did something, and he was pointing with pride to that Democratic record. That may be the best issue Democrats have, and Gephardt used it pretty effectively.
LIN: You can almost imagine how each of the candidates were just salivating to deliver their punch lines last night? Were there any memorable moments for you?
SCHNEIDER: There were some good moments. I thought there was a moment when Joe Lieberman scored off General Wesley Clark. Dick Gephardt scored off the Republicans. And a particularly good zinger was gotten off by John Kerry against a figure that liberals love to hate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK GEPHARDT (D-MO), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We know how to do this, they do not. If you want to live like a Republican, you got to vote for the Democrats.
SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D-CT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Welcome to the Democratic presidential campaign.
(LAUGHTER)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There are two ways to have lower prescription drug costs. One is, you could hire Rush Limbaugh's housekeeper.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
KERRY: Or you could elect me president of the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHNEIDER: Only one comment, ouch!
LIN: Oh, boy, no one is spared. All right, SO any standouts here? Or is it too early to tell in the crowd?
SCHNEIDER: Well, I thought -- I don't think anyone just sort of jumped off this -- out of this debate. I thought basically you're seeing a kind of mush of Democrats, all of whom had a certain amount of stature. I think they all had a certain problem connecting with those voters. The debate allowed ordinary voters to ask questions, and as they did, I kept thinking, what they really need is a Bill Clinton, who can connect with voters. Each of those candidates had some set speeches. You could see them going in with talking points.
There was a voter who asked about why this dome people in the world hate the United States? Can you explain it? What can do you about it? another voter said she was a small businesswoman, and she talked about the problems that she faced. Another talked about how much she had to suffer and sacrifice for her prescription drug costs. And I kept thinking, boy, if Bill Clinton could go in there and hit that out of the park. Instead these candidates came out and they gave their talking points, and I think they have some problems connecting with voters, but they're learning.
LIN: Yes, it's a little like reporters memorizing their live shots. You know, it never really quite breaks through to the audience. We'll see what happens in this race.
SCHNEIDER: That's their problem.
LIN: Thank, Bill Schneider, good to see you.
SCHNEIDER: Sure, Carol.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
