Are Politicians Having an Attack of Nice?
BILL PRESS, CO-HOST: Democrats are falling head over heels in love with George W. Where is the outrage?</s>TUCKER CARLSON, CO-HOST: Outrage is out this season. Bill, these days, it's all hugs and rose petals.</s>PRESS: And hugs and rose petals to all of you. Thank you for joining us. This is THE SPIN ROOM. I'm Bill Press.</s>CARLSON: And I'm Tucker Carlson here with Bill Press. This is our love show. We have a great show. We have Donna Brazile, who's campaign manager for Al Gore. Doesn't do a lot of TV, but she's doing THE SPIN ROOM tonight. We're pleased about that.</s>PRESS: First appearance since the campaign.</s>CARLSON: It's love show, as we said. You know the numbers, but we'll repeat them: 1-800-310-4CNN. Join our live, online chat at cnn.com or you can send us an e-mail. Our address is spin@cnn.com.</s>PRESS: We know some of you have just been absolutely as just stupefied as we have about this love affair this week, all these Democrats rushing down there to kiss George W.'s cheeks or boots whatever. We want to hear what you think about it, whether you thinks it's a good idea, you love all this bipartisanship or you're suspicious or even just angry, like I am.</s>CARLSON: Yes, or you're wondering if the new president is so stupid, then why do all the Democrats love him so much.</s>PRESS: Or how could he be such a charmer. I mean, people fall for this stuff. Get to the bottom of it.</s>CARLSON: They've been making pilgrimages, and his latest suitor, you knew it would come to this, is Ted Kennedy from the state of Massachusetts.</s>PRESS: I know. He sort of started it all off going down to the White House.</s>CARLSON: Let's listen to him fawn over the new president, shall we? I can't get enough of it.</s>SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: I just commend the president for putting education first on the national agenda. He did so in the course of the campaign, and now he's doing so in Congress, and I think he'll get a very positive response.</s>CARLSON: Did you see that? He just pushes George Miller out of the way. No, I love him more. I love him more.</s>PRESS: Senators always go first. That's what that was all about.</s>CARLSON: It was pure enthusiasm.</s>PRESS: As we debated this earlier on "CROSSFIRE" with Maxine Waters and Ellen Tauscher, and I just would repeat something I said then. I mean, I think Democrats have to remember that we fought this election about something. We fought this election about some differences and once the election is over, you don't just forget the differences and then fawn all over the other guy.</s>CARLSON: You know, one person -- one thing we did learn on "CROSSFIRE" is that one Democrat who is not in love, it turns out, with George W. Bush is Maxine Waters.</s>PRESS: I think it's safe to say...</s>CARLSON: She's not smitten yet. It's going to take a fair amount of charm to get Maxine in the Bush camp.</s>PRESS: Indeed it will, and our viewers watching "CROSSFIRE" and watching all this this week are, of course, right on top of this. Amy sends in: "Bill and Tucker, thanks for your "CROSSFIRE" show. As a life-long Democrat who has been working most recently for the defeat of Ashcroft as AG, I don't think I can express the way I feel about the betrayal of my party leaders without resorting to obscenities." Amy, I understand. I fell your anger.</s>CARLSON: Actually, Bill, I have this Amy mail and let me read the unexcoriated version where Amy says seriously, I'm considering moving to France. where capitulation in the face of right-wing opposition was turned into an art form in 1940. That was striking to me because you know, Democrats, when they get miffed, always promise to move to France but they never do. Make good on your promise, Amy, go.</s>PRESS: No, I say stay here and fight. And also, just before we meet Donna, here, another one: "Bill, I watched you on "CROSSFIRE" tonight, you and Tucker. I share your frustration, Bill. Everything that came out of your mouth could have come out of my mouth. It seems that you, me and Maxine Waters are only people in the world that know what's going on." What great company.</s>CARLSON: And you know, it's not only Democrats who are upset. It's Republicans. Bruce Hardy (ph) from Bam, Alabama -- I wonder if that's a real town -- Republican writes in: "I truly regret that Mr. Bush is reaching out to people like Maxine Waters. They're not going to reciprocate. They're going to bite his hand off. Well, Bush has pretty quick hands, but this is theory that a lot of Democrats have, that it's the spider and the fly, Democrats being, of course, the spider; Bush the fly.</s>PRESS: I don't think that's true. We thought it would be good to know what someone very close to Al Gore thinks about seeing all these Democrats who were supporting Al Gore suddenly fawning all over George W. Bush, and who better to ask, Tucker than Mr. Gore's campaign manager...</s>CARLSON: No one better to ask.</s>PRESS: ... Donna Brazile, who joins us tonight in THE SPIN ROOM. Hello, Donna.</s>DONNA BRAZILE, FRM. GORE CAMPAIGN MANAGER: Hey, good evening, guys. How are you guys doing?</s>PRESS: Great.</s>CARLSON: Great. Now before the show, in the interest of full disclosure, we got note from you, Donna Brazile, Bill and Tucker, be nice.</s>BRAZILE: Be nice. Be gentle.</s>CARLSON: We're going to put it right next to our spinning top to remind us.</s>BRAZILE: Thank you.</s>PRESS: Donna, let's just put this whole thing in context. We're going to show you a little medley of video, here, OK. You have seen all of these scenes. Maybe not everybody at home has seen them yet. So let's just start. Here's the week with the Democrats. Meeting with elder statesman Democrats. Then meeting with George Miller and Teddy Kennedy. Then Zell Miller, Democrat, comes out in support of the tax bill. Russ Feingold in support of Ashcroft. Joe Lieberman there in support of the faith-based initiatives. Teddy Kennedy is going to a movie at the White House...</s>CARLSON: With his son, Patrick.</s>PRESS: ... and the black caucus meets with the president today at the White House. Donna, I ask you, when you see all of those Democrats down there, you know, what's left for the Democratic Party to do?</s>BRAZILE: Well, first of all, let me quote a song from Tina Turner, "What's love got to do with it?" This is pure politics. The president has reached out to Democratic leaders across-the-board. He's indicated that he is looking for common ground, and many of our Democratic leaders are reaching back out to him to talk about some of his initiatives and this is the early part of the post-election season. And I expect over the next couple of weeks he'll continue to have a warm welcome and a gracious, you know, city to host him here. But let's see what happens once the budget gets up on Capitol Hill.</s>CARLSON: So, is this all calculation? I mean, when you say that love has nothing to do with that, I mean, this is just a way to sort of pull in George W. Bush before whacking him over the head?</s>BRAZILE: Well, I think the president -- let me just applaud him. He's made several trips inside the city here in Washington, D.C. He's met with our mayor, Tony Williams. He talked about some of the issues facing the city. He sat down tonight with members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and I believe that Karl Rove and team is advising him right.</s>PRESS: But did I hear you say that it's not going to last?</s>BRAZILE: Well, nothing lasts forever. You all know that.</s>BRAZILE: I know that, but what I'm saying is that I believe that he's reaching out. It's early in the administration. Democratic leaders are returning his phone calls. He's making phone calls. He's visiting inner city neighborhoods. He went to church in my own backyard on Capitol Hill...</s>PRESS: I know, Lincoln Park.</s>BRAZILE: ... Lincoln Park, about five blocks from my house. So, I salute him for visiting us on Capitol Hill. He should stop by Eastern Market, by the way. You can find some nice ground beef.</s>PRESS: I'm with you on that but look, Donna, let's get real, here. I mean, you ran this campaign. You know if Gore had been elected -- Gore was elected, but if Gore had made to it to the White House, you know the Republicans would not have treated him as well. Aren't you just a little miffed that Democrats are falling all over George W.?</s>BRAZILE: Well, you know, this -- again, it's politics. It's not love. It's politics. People -- Democratic leaders, we have an agenda that we're going to push forward to the American people, campaign finance reform. We're going to try to provide all seniors with a prescription drug benefit. We're going to try to make sure that his tax cut is smaller and reach middle class people who need it. And we're going to fight for some of things that we fought for in the last election. So. I believe, you know, that the president is making a great beginning here in Washington, D.C., and we'll see what happens once his budget gets up on Capitol Hill. But it will be tough, trust me.</s>CARLSON: But don't some of the Democrats who are cavorting and consorting with him run the risk of being seen as traitors? And before you answer that, let me just show you -- we had, as we said, Maxine Waters on "CROSSFIRE" tonight. We asked her about Senator Feingold's decision to vote for Ashcroft and listen to what she said about his motives.</s>REP. MAXINE WATERS (D), CALIFORNIA: I think he's got another agenda.</s>CARLSON: So he's willing to ignore racism for that other agenda he has?</s>WATERS: Obviously. The actions speak for itself.</s>CARLSON: Now you've been working with Senator Feingold on campaign finance reform. Does Maxine Waters know something we don't?</s>BRAZILE: Well, Maxine Waters, as you all know, is a very popular congresswoman. She, as you all know, is very outraged over the decision to -- by the president to nominate Mr. Ashcroft. She's led many protests with others here in Washington, D.C. against his nomination and she will continue to speak her mind as she should still. There is still a lot of anger. Look, I can't walk down the street without people walking up to me and asking me how are you feeling? And I say, look it's over. Six hundred and forty-three days from now I'll feel differently because we'll take back the Congress. But until that time, the president has the right and I applaud him for reaching out to Democratic leaders and reaching out to our mayor and other people across country. But let me assure you that members of the black caucus tonight expressed strong reservations about some of programs. They also talked to him about electoral reform. They talked to him about education and the priorities of the Congressional Black Caucus. Police Brutality came up, and I understand they even discussed racial profiling.</s>CARLSON: Did he charm them? I mean, from you conversations you've had with people -- did he charm them?</s>BRAZILE: Well, I didn't hear any gushing over the phone, but I heard it was a serious meeting and, you know, members of the Congressional Black Caucus were shunned in the last time the Republicans held the White House and he opened a door. And I understand that he and Vice President Cheney have decided to have other dialogues and more meetings with members of the Congressional Black Caucus.</s>PRESS: Donna, before we get away from Maxine Waters and Russ Feingold, here, Jeff is calling from Texas. One of our SPIN ROOM viewers. He's got a question for you.</s>CALLER: I was watching that show earlier on "CROSSFIRE" with Maxine and it was so outrageous. It seems now, that the term racist, or known as, is anybody that disagrees with a black liberal. Isn't that basically the truth? I mean, Russ Feingold is no liberal.</s>PRESS: We got it Jeff. Go ahead, Donna.</s>BRAZILE: Sir, I didn't see the show unfortunately. I was over on Capitol Hill at Dick Gephardt's birthday party. But Russ Feingold is a great Democratic leader. I understand that has reservations about Mr. Ashcroft's record but he's indicated that he would like to sort of, you know, support the president's person at this time. Many people disagree with his decision and Congresswoman Waters is one of those persons that disagrees. I don't represent her staff and I don't know what she said -- I know Congressman Waters is a tenacious fighter and she has strong views</s>CARLSON: And there is the understatement of the year.</s>PRESS: She is my friend.</s>CARLSON: And if you hold on for a second, Donna Brazile, we will be right back.</s>PRESS: Lots more questions for you</s>CARLSON: And awaiting your nominations for "Spin of the Day." We'll be back in just a moment.</s>PRESS: Welcome back to THE SPIN ROOM. Our guest is former Gore campaign manager Donna Brazile, talking about the seeming love affair that Democrats have with George</s>W. CARLSON: Passionate.</s>PRESS: Falling all over him. Before we get back to Donna and the love affair though, there is other important news of the day, including -- we may have some sad news, very sad news for your buddy, your hero, Katherine Harris. We thought that she was going to get a certain job. Well, today President Bush was meeting with some religious leaders and one of the religious leaders, I think an archbishop or something, mentioned he was from Florida and he said, Mr. President, we know you have a special affection for the state of Florida. Everybody laughed. And then President Bush said, yes, in fact, he had a special job for his brother down in Florida, the governor of Florida, he said I'm about to name my brother the ambassador to Chad. Tucker, that is the job that Katherine Harris was going to get. Poor Katherine Harris, she's just getting left out.</s>CARLSON: She will just have to go on to become governor of Florida, and I bet you Bush would have that country running smoothly, like a top. In other news, out of Danville, Kentucky tonight at a Dairy Queen in Danville, a customer came in, bought $2 worth of food, and paid with a $200 bill.</s>PRESS: There is no such thing.</s>CARLSON: There it is. There's a picture of George W. Bush on the front, there's an oil well on the back, he received 198 dollars in change, but the best quote came from a local detective who said, at a distance, it looks like a real bill. A real $200 bill, anybody could have made that mistake.</s>PRESS: Look. It has the sign that says, we like broccoli.</s>CARLSON: Nothing looks like a $200 bill.</s>PRESS: I just want to point out that this happened at a Dairy Queen in Kentucky. Do you know what they eat in Kentucky? Squirrel brains. Now you know what happens.</s>CARLSON: There is nothing with that.</s>PRESS: I don't eat squirrel brains. OK, here is Don from Ohio: "The love affair with GWB is because D.C. is so relieved that there is finally some adults in charge in Washington."</s>CARLSON: A lot of acronyms. An e-mail from an anonymous e- mailer -- raises a great question: "Are you better off today than you were seven days ago?" Speaking for myself, yes, and Bill, you look a lot better.</s>PRESS: But I'm feeling it inside, feeling the pain, so is Donna Brazile, our guest tonight. She's Al Gore's former campaign manager, lives in Washington, D.C., who lives on Capitol Hill.</s>CARLSON: Donna, have spoken to Al Gore? I'm certain you have since all this. How is he doing?</s>BRAZILE: Fine. He is -- Al and Tipper Gore both are doing quite well, they spent time away from Washington, went out to Colorado before the inaugural, and I understand that he's on travel this week. As you know, he's accepted a couple teaching jobs at Columbia and Middle Tennessee and Fisk University and UCLA, so he is in great shape.</s>CARLSON: He must be pretty angry. How does he express his anger when you talk to him?</s>BRAZILE: That is not Al Gore's style. I believe that the Al Gore you saw on December 13, seven weeks ago tonight, is the Al Gore that exists. In reality, he's very gracious, and he is very composed and he's focused on the future.</s>PRESS: How about you? Do you think George Bush stole this election?</s>BRAZILE: I believe we lost this election because the members of Supreme Court stopped the count. I also believe we lost this election because Katherine Harris and others in Florida put up barriers to, not only participation, but also they stopped the count.</s>PRESS: All right. Now, let me pick up on that -- I want that come back, now, where is the outrage? Why is everybody being so nice? Donna, when I got started in politics, I was taught the first rule in politics, which I can't repeat on this show, it says what happens to nice guys in politics -- isn't that still true?</s>BRAZILE: Don't get mad, get even; 643 days.</s>CARLSON: Now, you worked for Jesse Jackson in '84, if I remember. Explain to us what this dynamic between Bush and Jesse Jackson is all about. Bush takes a call from Jackson the day after and then calls Jesse Jackson on the phone when this scandal hits last week. Are they friends now?</s>BRAZILE: I don't know I haven't spoken to Reverend Jackson about his relationship with President Bush. I think President Bush reached out to him and placed a call to Reverend Jackson and his family and I think it's a good and kind gesture. I don't have anything personally against George Bush. He is a fine fellow, according to some of my friends that know him and I wish him well, but 643 days from now, we're going to take back the House and Senate.</s>PRESS: Some people don't want to wait that long -- they're thinking about this recount that is still going on in Florida. John from New York, in fact, has a question. Welcome to</s>THE SPIN ROOM. CALLER: Thank you. This is a question for Donna.</s>PRESS: Go.</s>CALLER: I would like to know, with this recount that has been talked about in the state of Florida, all 62 counties, how is that progressing and is there going to be an announcement made when it's finally complete?</s>BRAZILE: I have seen "The Washington Post" has come up with an analysis on the overvote and I understand that some of the Florida papers have come up with additional analysis, in terms of the amount of votes we have recovered. Some votes say George Bush recovered. But right now, I think the jury is still out, in terms of the actual number of votes that have been recovered from the observation by independent sources, so I can continue to tune in to some of the news stories but, you know, George, I have learned a long time ago -- this was my seventh presidential campaign; you win some, you lose some, but you focus on the future. I'm going to focus on the future and I hope that the true story comes out in Florida and when it comes out, many of us will be relieved, but we will continue to focus on tomorrow.</s>CARLSON: Very quickly now, Donna, speaking of the future,- are you running for office in the District of Columbia for city council.</s>BRAZILE: I'm glad you asked that question.</s>PRESS: Sounds like a yes to me.</s>BRAZILE: First, I'm on my way up to Cambridge next week to serve as a fellow at the Kennedy School. I'm looking forward to doing that and I'm looking forward to coming back and settling back in my neighborhood in Capitol Hill and taking a look at some of my options here in the District of Columbia. All politics is local.</s>CARLSON: Be sure to hit Bill up for a contribution.</s>BRAZILE: I'll hit you up as well, Tucker.</s>PRESS: But one of those options is running for the city council; right?</s>BRAZILE: One of those options is looking at everything from commission to city council.</s>PRESS: All right.</s>CARLSON: Well, shoot high is our advice. Thank you, Donna Brazile.</s>PRESS: That is going to be a great campaign. Thanks, Donna. Thanks for joining us in THE SPIN ROOM. And "Spin of the Day" coming up. Your nominations for "Spin of the Day," Tucker's and mine to spin@cnn.com.</s>CARLSON: But especially mine. We'll be right back.</s>CARLSON: Welcome back to THE SPIN ROOM, the tail end of THE SPIN ROOM. I'm Tucker Carlson. This would be Bill Press.</s>PRESS: That would be me.</s>CARLSON: That would be you, also in the tail end. In any case, we are back to our "Spins of the Day." But before we go there, I just want to read a couple pieces of e-mail. "Shame on you," this is to me. "You are constantly criticizing Hillary Clinton for accepting all those gifts but you are always begging for gifts on the show, and we know you won't send them back."</s>PRESS: I was going to criticize you for that.</s>CARLSON: No, we'll load them in the back of a truck, Bill and</s>I. PRESS: I just want you to know, we have a ton of e-mail from Canada today.</s>CARLSON: That's a good sign.</s>PRESS: And all of them have two things to say. Number one -- three thing to say. One, half of them say invite the Jean Chretien when he comes here to be THE SPIN ROOM. The other half say, we don't want him on the SPIN ROOM because he's too boring. But all of them have this to say, Tucker: "My wife and I were pleasantly surprised that you, Bill, pronounced Jean Chretien properly. Tucker still has to practice." Jean...</s>CARLSON: Jean...</s>PRESS: Chretien.</s>CARLSON: Chretien.</s>PRESS: Very good. You see, it didn't take much practice.</s>CARLSON: That's six years of French classes and you know, that was sort of a subtle dig at the prime minister.</s>PRESS: Andrew from Illinois on the phone with his "Spin of the Day".</s>CALLER: Hi, I have a "Spin of the Day" for you.</s>PRESS: Oh, Andrew, 12-year-old, right?</s>CALLER: Yes.</s>PRESS: Hi, Andrew. What is it, quickly?</s>CALLER: First of all, I'd like to say that us teens in Chicago haven't forgotten. We're still fighting. Second, that I think one reason Democrats are warming up to Bush is that he has no real substance to him so he's more malleable than perhaps other Republican presidents have been. Third, my mother is a French teacher and congratulations, Bill.</s>PRESS: Merci, Andre. All right, let's go. You have the "Spin of the Day" here in "Spin of the Day": "Charm or snake oil. Only GW knows for sure."</s>CARLSON: I'll go with charm.</s>PRESS: I think I'll go with snake oil. Surprise, surprise. And "Spin of the Day" from Linda R. who says: "I think Bush is a closet Democrat just waiting to come out. We can only hope so." Well, Linda.</s>CARLSON: And here's quick, a poignant e-mail: "I happened to stumble across SPIN ROOM and found program magnetic. At that moment, that very instance I came to realize that I live a truly dull life." From Kirk Conts (ph). Kirk, don't be so hard on yourself. Is it time, Bill?</s>PRESS: Unlike the exciting life that we lead.</s>CARLSON: It is time.</s>PRESS: All right, it is time, and I'm going to first tonight. My "Spin of the Day" comes from, I hate to say, the new secretary of the interior. Here name is Gale Norton and here's a message she had for environmentalists today, I believe, on CNN. Let's listen:</s>GALE NORTON, INTERIOR SECRETARY: I understand people who are concerned that we be as responsible as possible, and I want to show people that we don't have to fight between the environment and having the energy resources that we need. We need to proceed carefully so that we can have both of those things at the same time.</s>PRESS: Both of those things at the same time. What she is saying is Alaska, here we come. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, kiss it good-bye. Why doesn't she just say that?</s>CARLSON: There's oil in them there refuge, Bill, and that's good news. There's nothing wrong with that. But we continue this after the show. OK, my "Spin of the Day" comes from the well-spring, the essence, the pure source of "Spins of the Day." That would, of course, be Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.</s>PRESS: Who has replaced Jesse Jackson as your favorite spinner.</s>CARLSON: Exactly. I get a little obsessed. In any case, she was asked why are you not going to vote for Senator Ashcroft for AG? This was her response.</s>SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: Justice demand vigorous enforcement of the law, not vigorous subversion.</s>CARLSON: Says the woman who carted away almost $200 grand in gifts days before the gift ban applied to her. You could see the smoke coming off her lips. Those words burned her as they left her mouth.</s>PRESS: Can we just say again when people give you gifts, there is nothing wrong with accepting them.</s>CARLSON: Let me repeat, Hillary says justice demands rigorous enforcement of law, not vigorous subversion.</s>PRESS: Yes, right.</s>CARLSON: Hillary Clinton is saying this, Bill.</s>PRESS: The attorney general is supposed to enforce the law, Tucker. I'll explain it to you.</s>CARLSON: Hit me with it.</s>PRESS: I wish I could right now except we are out of time.