Question: After 9/11 the country came together and now we're polarized. BUt if you were elected, will you set a priority to bring the nation together.
Kerry: Let me pay a compliment to the president. After 9/11 the president did a terrific job and I was moved at the speech he gave to the Congress. And the hug Daschle gave him that day was genuine.
But it's not where we are today. The president called himself a uniter not a divider is so divided and I've never seen such ideological struggles as I've seen in the Congress. We have to change that. And as president I am committed to changing that. I don't care if the idea comes from this side or the other side. I've done that. I've worked iwth John McCain who is sitting here. I've reached across the aisle. THat's what makes us strong as Americans.
We will have open, not secret meetings with people with special interests, we will restore America's hopes. I will work with my friend John McCain on campaign finance reform so America is really represented.
The Black Caucus has closed meetings........wouldn't even allow the Republican black man...Watts...to join.