Posted on 09/01/2004 10:02:26 PM PDT by crushelits
HEWITT: Sitting across from me Terry McAuliffe. Strike me dead. Its so good to see you here Mr. Chairman. Its good to have you at the Democratic National Convention and at the Republican National Convention
MCAULIFFE: Who would have thought that Id be going around with a credential at the Republican Convention.
HEWITT: Can you stay for a couple of hours?
MCAULIFFE: Love to. Love it here. Everybody is being hospitable to me.
HEWITT: I want to start with some very easy questions.
MCAULIFFE: Yeah.
HEWITT: Do you believe that John Kerry took a CIA man into Cambodia and kept his hat?
MCAULIFFE: Uh, I have no idea.
HEWITT: You have no idea that he made that story to the Washington Post and that he made it again in 2004 to the LA Times?
MCAULIFFE: If John Kerry said he did something, Ill take John Kerry at his word.
HEWITT: Do you think that he ran guns to anti-communists in Cambodia which he told the U.S. News & World Report on May of 2000?
MCAULIFFE: I dont know. Youd have to ask John Kerry about that. I dont know what he did in Cambodia or didnt. That was a war 35 years ago. I want to talk about this year.
HEWITT: Did he go to Cambodia on Christmas Eve --your understanding-- in 1968?
MCAULIFFE: I think he probably did and probably George Bush when he was in the Alabama National Guard was driving the boat.
HEWITT: Obviously though, George Bush never made that claim but John Kerry has made numerous claims about his record in Cambodia. Does that matter to you?
MCAULIFFE: Oh sure, everything matters what people say. Absolutely. George Bush also said that he showed up in the Alabama National Guard and never showed up.
HEWITT: Youre still holding that story that he never showed up . . .
MCAULIFFE: Hugh, wait a minute. Theyve released the documents and all weve got is more questions. He had one dental appointment. Big deal.
HEWITT: Now, should John Kerry meet with the press and answer all the questions about the Cambodia stuff?
MCAULIFFE: I think John Kerry ought to go before the press and answer any questions they put out there. Im always for that. Absolutely. I also want George Bush to answer some questions why he said he now miscalculated the war in Iraq. He says that we cant win the war on terror. I have a lot of questions for Bush.
HEWITT: Why hasnt John Kerry met with the media since the Chris Wallace interview on the Sunday after the convention for extensive questions? Hes had a couple passerbys on the airplane but nothing on film and he hasnt met with the press.
MCAULIFFE: This is all news to me, Hugh. I dont know. I will be glad to ask Senator Kerry why hes not met with you or any other the other . . .
HEWITT: Not me, but anybody. But Chairman of the party arent you concerned hes hiding from the press?
MCAULIFFE: John Kerry is out campaigning every single day. There are press on his plane, 40 press, theres a backup plane loaded with press, he talks to them on the rope line going in and out of the plane. Im on the plane. I see him talking to press every single day.
HEWITT: He hasnt answered any of these questions about Swift Vote Veterans ads. People want to ask about the CIA man in Cambodia in 2003. Dont they have a right . . .
MCAULIFFE: First of all, he shouldnt have to answer questions about Swift Boat ads when you now have all the major publications have now come out and have now said first of all, that these guys are lying and not telling the truth. One gentleman admitted the other day last week what he had said was not actually himself seeing it, it was based on hearsay, so he was caught in a lie. Theres another gentleman come out and say that there was no enemy fire. He got a citation and his medal for enemy fire at the same incident as John Kerry. These Swift Boat ads are riddled with lies.
HEWITT: But Senator Kerry told the Washington Post in the June interview with Laurie Blumenfeld that he had taken this CIA man deep into Cambodia and . . .
MCAULIFFE: You keep asking me about Cambodia and I dont know the answer.
HEWITT: But thats not about Cambodia, its having made that mistake . . .
MCAULIFFE: What do I look like, Bob McNamara? I dont know.
HEWITT: Do you think Bob McNamara would know that?
MCAULIFFE: Ask him.
HEWITT: Do you think anyone else who would have gone with him would have stepped forward by this . . .
MCAULIFFE: Youre going to ask him yourself. I just know the issues which relate to Cambodia.
HEWITT: Would you agree with me that he ought to sit down with a reputable member of the press and answer as many questions as possible?
MCAULIFFE: Id like George Bush to sit down and answer questions too. They both should.
HEWITT: Should John Kerry do it soon?
MCAULIFFE: Listen to this. We have three presidential debates where people are going to ask whatever things they want. So, Hugh, the moderators have already been determined. I think you ought to call them and if this has really got you so stoked up, then you ought to call them and have John Kerry in front a national 100 million people ask him at the debate. Hows that?
HEWITT: There are lots of Americans who are interested in this and there is plenty of media who would ask if he would only come out from hiding. Dont you think that presidential candidates should be meeting with the press on at least a weekly basis?
MCAULIFFE: Hugh, hes not hiding. This man has had the most extensive travel schedule. The press are on his plane. Hes with press constantly. I dont know why you think hes hiding.
HEWITT: When was the last time that he took questions on camera from journalists?
MCAULIFFE: I have no idea.
HEWITT: It was over a month.
MCAULIFFE: I will tell him that you are very concerned about this . . .
HEWITT: Does that tell you that the campaign is collapsing and hes afraid to meet . . .
MCAULIFFE: Were you like this with Ronald Reagan when you could never get near him for eight years and he used to bring his car into the back door . . .
HEWITT: [laugh] I was his lawyer. I couldnt . . . I was in the White House Counsels office.. Let me switch . .
MCAULIFFE: Alright.
HEWITT: John Edwards yesterday said that he should sell the Iranians nuclear fuel. Do you agree with that, Terry McAuliffe?
MCAULIFFE: What did John Edwards say?
HEWITT: That we ought to do a deal with the Iranians that if they dont get to produce their own nuclear fuel but that we will sell it to them in exchange for strict controls. Do you think thats an answer to the situation on terror?
MCAULIFFE: If John Edwards said thats what John Edwards feels and Im sure that he talked to John Kerry about it.
HEWITT: Do you think thats a good policy?
MCAULIFFE: If John Edwards is promoting that on behalf of the Kerry/Edwards team, Im clearly going to let our two candidates talk about how we should be handling the issues as it relates to Iran and the nuclear issue. I would also at the same time, as long as were talking about this, why is George Bush as it relates to North Korea continually allowed them to continue to build a nuclear stock piles in Korea . . .
HEWITT: Should we return to the policy of 1994? Clinton/Albright?
MCAULIFFE: Possibly.
HEWITT: Do you think thats a good idea? Did the policy serve us well?
MCAULIFFE: Well, they clearly were not continuing down the path that we have today. They are a much more dangerous country today than they were in 2000 when George Bush came into office.
HEWITT: Is it your impression that North Korea honored the agreement that Madelyn Albright negotiated and Bill Clinton signed?
MCAULIFFE: No. I wouldnt say that they met all their agreements. No . . .
HEWITT: So, was it a good idea to enter into that agreement?
MCAULIFFE: I think its always important, Hugh that you have discussions with world leaders. I think its always important that we have people who are little -- the leader of North Koreas a lot of questions and you cant trust him, but I think its always good to sit and at least have conversation with them because you can never get to an agreement until you have some type of discussion and dialogue. I think dialogue is good.
HEWITT: Before the 2002 election I remember watching you on with Russert and you said that you were going to crush Jeb Bush in Florida
MCAULIFFE: Right --
HEWITT: that you were going to him out by 15 points.
MCAULIFFE: I never said 15 points. Thats just not true, Hughie. I think youre puffing a little bit.
HEWITT: Was it 10?
MCAULIFFE: It was no number. I never said a number.
HEWITT: It was a fake number you said you were going to blow him out take him out.
MCAULIFFE: No, no. We never say blow out.
HEWITT: Okay, Ill go back in a minute. Do you think youre predictions about this cycle are as accurate as that cycle.
MCAULIFFE: Let me Hugh, let me not make this too complicated. Im Chairman of the Democratic party. When a commentator asks me about an election let me be clear so that you have no illusions. I will say that we are going to win every single race
HEWITT: Even if you dont believe it?
MCAULIFFE: Im going to say were going to win every single race
HEWITT: Even if you dont believe it and youre going to tell people
MCAULIFFE: Im the ultimate optimist. Were going to win every race. I think I should go on Sunday before a major election and go on Tim Russert and say, Tim, I think were going to lose this one Democrats are you nuts? Thats what the Chairman of the party does.
HEWITT: But you can say something like its a tough race but we could pull it out as opposed to were going to bury him or whatever it was
MCAULIFFE: Please dont be putting words into my mouth, Hughie.
HEWITT: It was close.
MCAULIFFE: Were going to win it.
HEWITT: It was a big statement - and didnt it ______ lose by how much?
MCAULIFFE: I think he lost by 8 points. And let me tell you, I put a lot of money into that race.
HEWITT: So, it wasnt close?
MCAULIFFE: Let me tell you. Jeb Bush was never over 50% until 10 days before until they had a debate. As you know, Mr. McBride admitted that it was not his finest moment when they asked him how much the costs of his education plan would be and he said I dont know.
HEWITT: So extrapolating out from that Terry McAuliffe, would it be fair to say that if youre prediction was that wrong about Florida 2002 that we ought not to really pay attention to your prediction about Florida in 2004?
MCAULIFFE: Were going to win Florida. Just take the polls today. I mean were up. You know what? Were going to win all 50 let me make it easy for you, Hughie. Were going to win all 50 states.
HEWITT: All
MCAULIFFE: Were going to win the House. Were going to win the Senate. Were going to win everything. You bet!
HEWITT: Now if
MCAULIFFE: 50 state sweep. Hows that?
HEWITT: In GQ in the interview thats out today
MCAULIFFE: Yeah --
HEWITT: John Kerry called the President I want to get it right craven, stupid, and pathetic. Good choice of words for a nominee?
MCAULIFFE: I havent seen it. Whatd he call the President of the United States?
HEWITT: Craven, pathetic and stupid.
MCAULIFFE: Well, what was it in the context of, Hughie?
HEWITT: Craven, pathetic and stupid.
MCAULIFFE: I mean heres a president that just said that we cant win the war on terror and weve got a 140,000 troops in Iraq
HEWITT: Do you agree with that kind of characterization?
MCAULIFFE: He said that he miscalculated the war in Iraq. I think that George Bush has come up with some bad, stupid things.
HEWITT: But do you agree with that characterization pathetic?
MCAULIFFE: Unless you show it to me, Im just not going to comment to something that you say on the air. Youre a lawyer. Im a lawyer.
HEWITT: Terry McAuliffe, can you stick around?
Bookmarking!
HEWITT: You have no idea that he made that story to the Washington Post and that he made it again in 2004 to the LA Times?MCAULIFFE: If John Kerry said he did something, Ill take John Kerry at his word.
HEWITT: Do you think that he ran guns to anti-communists in Cambodia which he told the U.S. News & World Report on May of 2000?
MCAULIFFE: I dont know. Youd have to ask John Kerry about that. I dont know what he did in Cambodia or didnt. That was a war 35 years ago. I want to talk about this year.
Hey, Terry! If it is so irrelevant, why does John f. Kerry keep bringing it up in the present???
Would McAuliffe be talking about ANYTHING ELSE if Bush, or ANY national figure, was quoted as saying these things about Kerry?
He'd be parading around in his well worn righteous indigniation costume demanding apologies and resignations, pretending once again that those with no honor should be allowed to hold others to standards they don't even respect let alon follow...but what does he say when it's HIS guy??: "What was the context?"
What a slime bucket. The perfect representative of the current Democratic Party.
MCAULIFFE: "I mean heres a president that just said that we cant win the war on terror and..."
We won the Cold War against the Soviet Union but we did not end the threat from communism or socialism. Shutting down Al Qaida, the KLA, Hezbollah, and Hamas won't necessarily erradicate Islamic terrorism. There can always be a lone nut and just because they aren't attacking on "US soil", US embassies ARE for all intensive purposes US soil. Also hitting discos in Bali and other places that are frequented by Westerners still put us at risk. "Winning" the War On Terror will mean that free people are safe around the world from terrorism. The US can't police all of that, it may take several generations of no attacks in order for "victory" to be visible.
When WWII ended, it was still dangerous in Germany, Italy, and Japan. I don't fear any threats from these nations today. Change can come. John Edwards has been out there claiming that he can win the War On Terror in 4 years or less.
This character thinks its his JOB to lie.
The Democratic Party doesn't have a prayer of serving the people they dupe as long as this guy is in charge.
I think McAuliffe is distancing himself from John Kerry
Drink up Terry
Mcauliffe meant swept not sweep for the deomocrats. They are going to be swept aside or under the rug, whatever the case, the Democrats are in a world of hurt.
From reading this, do you get the feeling, he really is wondering what the hell kerry and edwards are thinking when they talk, and asking himself, is it really worth the money to have to defend these two idiots?
I'm cracking up right now, at least, I can partially understand why the DUmmies hate him so much, he writes fund raising letters to them to get there money, and they believe him.
I wonder if he laughs when he reads letters or suggestions from them or just takes the check and laughs some more.
Now you know why some many liberals hate him.
He sends out fundraising letters, convinces them of impossible prospects, get there hopes up and cashes there checks, spends there money (or steals it), then does stuff like this.
I don't think he's distancing himself, I think he is wondering what the hell is wrong with those 2, why are they the ticket this year, and is it really worth the money to sacrifise your dignity to have to answer questions about what they said and defend these 2.
And therein lies your problem, you idiot.
MCAULIFFE: What did John Edwards say?
Right now Terry's thinking, My god, what an idiot, why god why, am I an atheist?
MCAULIFFE: Let me Hugh, let me not make this too complicated. Im Chairman of the Democratic party. When a commentator asks me about an election let me be clear so that you have no illusions. I will say that we are going to win every single race
HEWITT: Even if you dont believe it?
MCAULIFFE: Im going to say were going to win every single race
Right now he's thinking fast, hmmm, maybe I'll make them think I'm crazy, yes, save my dignity by acting looney, what can I do to make myself look crazy instead of just a liar, I got an idea.
MCAULIFFE: Were going to win Florida. Just take the polls today. I mean were up. You know what? Were going to win all 50 let me make it easy for you, Hughie. Were going to win all 50 states.
HEWITT: All
MCAULIFFE: Were going to win the House. Were going to win the Senate. Were going to win everything. You bet!
Heh, he, heh, Now he won't ask me anything serious, I'm either a compulsive liar or crazy man. This will stop him.
HEWITT: John Kerry called the President I want to get it right craven, stupid, and pathetic. Good choice of words for a nominee?
MCAULIFFE: I havent seen it. Whatd he call the President of the United States?
HEWITT: Craven, pathetic and stupid.
MCAULIFFE: Well, what was it in the context of, Hughie?
HEWITT: Craven, pathetic and stupid.
What did I do to Kerry, why does he make me humiliate myself so, I'll give him a couple of dumb sentences and leave, if that doesn't work, I'll foam at the mouth, strip and run howling outside.
If Terry McAwful thinks John F*ckin' will win a 50 state sweep AND secure a Democratic Congress, I will gladly eat lunch at a restaurant of his choice. I feel safe in making this offer because I don't think I will ever have to make good on it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.