Remember
2000
An Analysis and exposé
of:
The Stolen Election
of The United States
of America.

B Richard
Schumacher











Remember 2000:
the stolen election of the United States of America
First Edition
script finished: 07.25.2004; printed 07.29.04
Second Edition
10.12.08
All Rights and copyrights of this
piece of work belong to this writer:
B RICHARD SCHUMACHER
contact at:
brschu1@yahoo.com
Introduction
In this book you will find how the Democrats made the severe, but honest mistake of calling upon the American Public’s—and of all our Courts’ in general—honesties. They called upon our Constitutionally-fair assessments, our heartfelt intelligence, and for our basic interest in concluding this matter by describing to us the facts in intelligent terms, with truthful descriptions of fact and justly-held American law. And they, the many supporters of the facts—including many of the players, reporters and commentators—quoted herein, pursued that which the laws of Florida and of our Nation described as the legal course.
The problem was that most Republicans were so very sly, and enough to call upon our dark side [the deceitful nature of so many Bush-type Americans]; with James Baker-and-Co.’s longwinded public statements filled with such reconstructed truths, fabricated truths, skewed truths—even using deliberate deceit—with their simple but untrue mantras: "..Count after count after count"; or "Somebody could easily cause mischief with the ballots", repeated so many times for the overwhelmingly shallow minded and tunnel-vision thinkers of this country.
And then not so many of us even paid enough real attention, or showed personal and genuine interest as to how our one vote, and thus, how our rightful Democracy became stolen from us!
Too bad, huh..?
But: The real problem for us, still today, is: Things have not changed!
This Book is a report on all the players: The principles; the surrogates; the reporters and the commentators. All of whom also participated in this misguided adventure in political history.
B Richard Schumacher









Chapter one:
The Players—

William Daley, the Gore campaign Chairman speaking: "I have some news to share with all of you tonight. Uh, let me say I’ve been in politics a very long time…but I don’t think there has ever been a night like this one. Just an hour or so ago, the TV networks called this race for Governor Bush. It now appears…it now appears that their call was premature (with some roar from the crowd). Let me be very clear about this: According to the information supplied by the Secretary of State of Florida, with 99.9% of the vote counted; there is a margin of only about 1200 votes, out of millions cast, with only about 5000 votes left to be counted. This is very significant for a most important reason; and that is, for under Florida state law this triggers an automatic recount; and as everyone knows in America, this race has come down to the state of Florida. Without being certain of the results in Florida, we simply cannot be certain of the results of this National Election (roar from the crowd). Let me add that Vice President Gore and Senator Lieberman are fully prepared to concede, and to support Governor Bush, if and when he is officially elected President: But this race is simply too close to call. And until the results…the recount is concluded, and the results of Florida become official; our campaign continues (roar). So let me…so let me…so let me…so let me thank all of you, on behalf of Vice President Al Gore and Senator Joe Lieberman for waiting out here so late tonight, and we hope to have you back very soon. Thank you, very much! … Goodnight."
Chip Reid of MSNBC: "And Gregg, one odd thing about that, is that after Daley spoke they began playing the song that is the theme song, the campaign theme song, of the Gore campaign as though this were a campaign event; something to get the crowd pumped up, after they always do after a campaign event. So this thing, they believe is still very much alive, even though it seemed it was dead for them. This crowd here had been very despondent for a couple of hours, and we’re simply waiting for Al Gore to come out and give a concession speech; and then, miraculously Florida’s back in the game; and the networks reversed their decision and said that Florida is too close to call. Now an automatic (recount) in Florida; (in) a number of counties in Florida: and the Gore people believe they are very much in the game. They believe they can win Florida, and thereby win this campaign."
MSNBC’s commentator: "49% to 49%; this is roughly within a-thousand-votes difference. George W. Bush: with two million, nine hundred and five (thousand); Al Gore: two million, nine hundred and four; however these numbers are expected to change, because there are still absentee ballots that have yet to be counted; and again, there have been suggestions of voting irregularities that apparently will be looked into by the Attorney General’s office in the state of Florida. We will continue to update these numbers as they come in."
Roger Cossack of CNN: "Hello, and welcome to Burden of Proof. After months of campaigning, primaries and debates, and a nail-biting evening watching roller-coaster poles; and America still awaits the results of the Presidential election. Now the focus today is on Florida, where election officials are recounting votes by the state’s 67 supervisors of elections."
Greta Van Susteren, CNN: "Florida officials say the recount could be completed by the end of tomorrow. But if results validate a razor-thin edge for either candidate, election officials will have to wait for overseas ballots to arrive. Many of those will be from military personnel."
Roger Cossack: "We have [..these guests]; but first, I want to go to Sue Blum, who was a [elderly lady] voter in Florida:
"Sue, yesterday you went to vote; what happened?"
Sue Blum: "Well, when I went to the poles yesterday they were quite crowded. I got in line, signed in, and then I waited for my booth…voting booth. When I went in there, I looked at the ballot and I thought ‘this is strange’. There was no hole by my candidate’s name: It was out of line…it was about a-fourth of an inch off. And I looked up, above; I thought: ‘if I go above the name it would be Buchanan, and if I went below it would be the other candidate’. So I walked out of the booth, and called one of the gentlemen over (that helps people vote) to show him; and I said: ‘I don’t know which hole to punch for my candidate,’ and I said; ‘this is out of line’. And he looked at it, and he pointed his finger down at this hole; and I said: ‘Are you sure?’ And he put his finger there again, so I said: ‘I guess so’. So he walked off. So I studied it for some time, and I thought: ‘Well if I go above, it’s going to be closer to Buchanan, and if I go below it’s going to be closer to the other’. So I did the best I could; I went a little bit above it. Then, when I got through—finished the voting—and I walked out. Well, it bothered me all day long. I didn’t’ know what to do about it. So anyway, I wasn’t going to do anything. I just worried about it. But that night, I heard on television where a lot of these ballots were bad, and I knew immediately that mine was! And I thought: ‘what could I do?’ So I called around some friends to see what they thought, and nobody could tell me much."
Greta Van Susteren: "Sue, who did you intend to voter for…who was your candidate?"
"You mean, you want me to name him..? ..Yes, Gore."
Roger Cassack: "And Sue, can you tell us what precinct you were voting in?"
"In South Palm Beach."
CNN Anchor, Lou Waters: "After all these hours of gut-wrenching ups and downs, the Electoral Vote breaks like this: 260 of them for Democratic candidate Al Gore; 246 for Republican candidate George W. Bush. As you well know the magic number is 270, and 25 votes in Florida will put somebody over the top. Oregon also is too close to call, but the outcome there with only 7 electoral votes up for grabs is academic. The Popular vote is a different story: Gore is ahead by more than a quarter-million votes. And it does not seem possible that the Florida recount could put Gore behind in this race. That raises the odd—but not unprecedented—prospect that he could win the popular vote, but lose the Presidential election. The popular in Florida currently favors Bush by some 1800 ballots out of six-million cast."
CNN’s Natalie Allen: "As if that weren’t suspense enough, there are intrigues in a few Florida counties for potentially mismarked ballots, and ballots that may have fallen through the cracks. CNN’s Mike Boettcher joins us now from Tallahassee with the latest about all of this."
"Well Natalie, in other places they would say this is the epicenter of the whole crisis problem. The election count here in Florida—hurricane country; they’re saying, ‘this is the eye of the hurricane,’ because it is here, the ballots will be reported—the new count will be made. But this is how it occurs, and that voting (machine-counting) is going on right now; and we have live pictures from Broward County where the recount has begun. The precinct will recount the ballots; they go to the counties, the county recounts, they have those counts; they move them upstairs here to the 18th floor of this State Capital skyscraper, here in Tallahassee. There, they will be tabulated; but they will release the results as the counties give them. It won’t be a one total of all the sixty-seven counties; so you will be able to keep a running total. It will be on the State of Florida Division of Elections website. And this is all do to happen over the next two days, although most of it should be done by later today. The counties have until around seven o’clock tomorrow to get this process done. Clay Roberts, who’s head of Divisions of Elections here, says he wants to make sure it’s done absolutely right.
"Now the Florida State Democratic Party says, it’s been receiving many calls of people reporting irregularities. Uh, I was sitting in the state Attorney General’s office—in the foyer for about fifteen minutes, waiting to see someone—and, uh, call after call came in. The switchboard was lit up; and most of those people said they wanted to report some sort of election irregularity. There was a ballot box found in a school in Palm Beach; and the question then comes: what is then counted? Now the Division of Elections here in Florida—and please follow me with this—says they are doing the recounting right now; and when it comes to challenges and irregularities, that’s not what’s going to happen right now. They’re going to go through, do the recount, count the good solid ballots and then report those to the state. Later on, if there are irregularities, and people want to challenge that in court and make other sorts of challenges, that could occur. Also complicating all of this, a couple-thousand or more overseas ballots; they only had to be mailed the day of the election."
Natalie Allen: "So Mike, as far as the ballot box that showed up in that lock-box, uh; no one’s sure what’s going to happen about that..? Or, the Palm Beach County question with the confusion over the ballot; that will be something dealt with at a later time probably?"
Mike Boettcher: "Uh, yes. I mean, well the ballot box; if they can prove on the local level there that that ballot-box was part of that precinct’s voting; my understanding is, that wouldn’t be an irregularity but it would be more of an oversight, and they could possibly count that. Now that could be challenged by either party.. ..There are other things too, for example: I talked to Senator-Elect Bill Nelson; he said: there weren’t pages to vote for US Senator. He wasn’t on the ballot and neither was his opponent; so that could have skewed the election in the Senate race.."
For the reporters in Austin, Texas; Gov. George W. Bush: "..If the final vote count there, shows that Secretary Cheney and I have carried the State of Florida: And if that result is confirmed, in an automatic recount, as we expect it will be; then we have won the election. Recount is already under way, and I understand the Secretary of State of Florida has announced to the media that will be completed by five-p.m. tomorrow. We have asked former United States Secretary of State, James Baker, to travel to Florida on our behalf. He’s a man of impeccable credentials, and integrity, and someone the American people can trust to make sure the outcome is finalized, as quickly as possible, and in a calm and thoughtful manner. The strength of our American Democracy was explayed…displayed in this exciting election. A close contest, that produced a huge turnout. I want to thank all the supporters who worked hard on our behalf. I also want to thank the Vice President’s supporters for their hard work and their belief in their cause. I want to assure them, that should the election go the way that we think it will, that I will work hard to earn their confidence. America has a long tradition of uniting once elections are over. Secretary Cheney and I will do everything in our power to unite the nation, to call upon the best, to bring people together, after one of the most exciting elections in our nation’s history. Mr. Secretary."
Dick Cheney: "I would, uh, simply add, uh, to what the Governor said, that, um, we look forward to getting this matter resolved as quickly as possible, so we can get on with the important business of, uh, transition, and, uh, are optimistic that once this process is complete as, uh, the Governor said that, uh, there will be a clear and decisive result, uh, once the final count is completed in Florida tomorrow."
George W. Bush, answering a reporter’s question: "..That was obviously a, uh, historic moment, and uh, it’s going to be resolved in a quick way. Confident that, um, that the Secretary and I will…will become the President-elect and the Vice President-elect in short order." (Then a reporter’s question about the U.S. ‘Popular Vote’, but no response from Bush.)
Later: Bush and Cheney with reporters at a sit-down meal in Austin Texas; George W. Bush: "..Morning! ..How does it feel, not to be on an airplane headed somewhere?
Reporter asks: "And not knowing, what your title will be in a couple days?"
George W. Bush: "Well, we feel very good about what our title’s gonna be. And, uh, it’s uh…the results are out there, they’re not being certified, and, uh…we’re, um, we’re-we’re…we’re pleased with the support we received."
Reporter: "Do you feel like a President-elect this morning, Governor?"
George W. Bush: "Carl, I feel like a man who worked my heart out; put out a positive message; and uh…and, uh, a person who is, um, uh, looking for a quick resolution of, uh, of…of the ballots in the state of Florida."
Reporter: "What were the emotional swings like last night Governor.."
George W. Bush: "Well, it was, uh…was a great night: it was a, interesting night, my, um…needless to say there were some consternation with the Gu…the Florida’s Governor, during our family dinner; when, uh, somebody jumped the preverbal gun, as we say. And um, so he’s, he’s the person who really went through s...some uh, you know, obviously some interesting emotions. Uh, I was, confident that, uh, when it was all said and done that Florida would be taken off the, the, um, the declared, you know, state roll, and that, uh, cooler heads would prevail, and the count would actually matter…that’s what’s happened."
Reporter: "What did you tell the Vice President when he called the second time?"
George W. Bush: "I just, um, I thought it was an interesting comment he made, and uh, listened to what he had to say. And I didn’t have much to say."
"Were you amazed.."
"Well, I, uh, uh…boy, was I! I felt like, uh, we, I was fully prepared to go out and, and uh, give a speech, and um, thankin’ my supporters, and uh, he, he withdrew his, uh, his earlier comments, and, um, here we sit. I’m lookin’ for it being speedily resolved, and that the vote that we believe we’ve got in Florida’s confirmed; and when that happens, I’ll be the President-elect, and my friend will be the Vice President-elect, and we’ll begin the Transition. … My soup is getting cold, but since it was cold to begin…no, it’s uh…Thank you all. Everybody go back and get some rest! I’ll, we will try not to make too much news for ya’, between now an…between now and supper.."
President Clinton holds News Conference [missing the first part]: "..their right to vote: Yesterday put it to rest. No American will ever be able to seriously say again: ‘My vote doesn’t count’. Uh, the American people have now spoken, but it’s goin’ to take a little while to determine exactly what they said. The process for that is in motion, and the rest of us will have to let it play out. I want to congratulate, uh, Vice President Gore, and Governor Bush, on a vigorous, hard fought, truly remarkable campaign. Thank you very much."
"Mr. President…did you advise the Vice President to resend his concession last night?"
"No sir, I didn’t talk to him about it at all, one way or the other: I talked to him afterward. We had a great talk, uh: later, you know, when the situation was as it is now; and we were laughing, uh, we had a…he was in a good humor. He talked, uh we talked about the unpredictability of life, and how he’d done all he could; and he was pleased that he was ahead in the popular vote, uh, at the time—I don’t know what the latest totals are—and we had a very good talk; and he congratulated Hillary and they had a nice little visit. But, uh, I was just like you last night; I was a fascinated observer…Thank you."
CNN’s Lou Waters: "..there’s been a change (during the Florida mandated machine recount): After four counties, is plus-23 for Vice President Al Gore. The total as it stands right now, after the four counties have been counted: 2,909,146 for Governor Bush, 2,907,385 for Vice President Gore: that is plus-11 for Governor Bush; plus-34 for Vice President Gore; so a total of plus-23 for the Vice President.."
News conference, with the Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth, and Governor Jeb Bush:
Governor Jeb Bush: "As you’ve learned from the Secretary of State earlier: because of the closeness of the Presidential election results, here in our state; an automatic recount, as (provided) by law of Florida’s ballots are currently under way. From the beginning I’ve always said that Florida would be a hard-fought state; in fact, the Attorney General and I sit next to each other in cabinet meetings and we have discussed how close, and how hard fought it’s been all the way from the very beginning to the end. And we thought it would be close. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine it would be this close.
"I have the greatest confidence in the independently-elected, bipartisan group of county supervisors of elections, uh, that exist all across our state, as well as our independently-elected Secretary of State. These public servants will perform the mandatory recount with the utmost diligence and professionalism. I, along with Attorney General Butterworth are firmly committed to protecting the integrity of Florida’s election process, and will seek swift enforcement of Florida’s election laws. Voter fraud, in our state is a felony; and guilty parties will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Both of us have pledged to work together with Secretary of State, Katherine Harris, in this regard. Furthermore, to insure that there is not the slightest appearance of a conflict-of-interest, I have chosen to recuse myself from serving on the Elections Canvassing Commission. Under Florida law, this commission is the ultimate certifier of election results. Florida law requires that my replacement on the commission be appointed by the Director of the Division of Elections, in the Department of State.
"The stakes are high, and the circumstances demand responsibility by both political parties, and by each of you. Both candidates, in my opinion were treated unfairly by the early projections in Florida; as were the voters. In fact, maybe people outside of our state didn’t know that we also have people on Central Time Zone, and so, uh, the projection made at the beginning, um, in my opinion; put in play, or put at risk, uh, some of the voters in the Panhandle of our state. I’ve been disappointed by the lack of care exercised by some of those in the news-media, who have casually repeated or broadcast un-substantial allegations of voting irregularities. Given the incredible weight of the circumstances at hand, I would hope and expect that news organizations will adhere to the highest standards of accuracy, as they report on the events taking place here in our great state."
Bob Butterworth: "The state of Florida is in a National spotlight right now…in a World spotlight. What happens here in the state will determine the next presidency of the United States. Therefore the integrity of our state is also at stake…and the future, of the confidence that people have in our state. And I’m confident that the Secretary of State will proceed with the recount process as quickly as possible, and that all issues associated—as the Governor stated—with the balloting, will be fully examined. All of us in Florida are aware of the great importance of this process. All of us recognize the importance of insuring that every vote is properly counted. I can also assure the rest of the nation, that there is no way that Governor Jeb Bush, or Secretary of State Harris would certify election results—and now, the Governor will not be doing that, but someone else will in his place—that they had any doubt at all, that may not be in perfect order. Thank you."
Statement from Vice President Al Gore: "(missing intro) ..We still do not know the outcome of yesterday’s vote…and I realize that this is an extraordinary moment for our Democracy. Joe Lieberman and I want to thank the nearly 50-million Americans who gave us their votes and confidence. And I want to express my deep and profound gratitude to all of those who cast their ballots; however they cast them. We now need to resolve this election in a way that is fair, forthright, and fully consistent with our Constitution and our laws.
"What is at issue here is the fundamental fairness of the process, as a whole. Because of what is at stake, this matter must be resolved expeditiously, but deliberately, and without any rush to judgment. Despite the fact that Joe Lieberman and I won the popular vote; under our Constitution, it is the winner of the Electoral College who will be the next President.
"Our Constitution is the whole foundation of our freedom, and it must be followed faithfully, toward the true result ordained by the American People with their votes in our respective states. We are now, as we have been since the moment of our founding, a nation based on the rule of law. When our Founders pledged their sacred honor to bring forth this Republic, upon which the hope of humankind still rests, they affirmed the bedrock principle that Americans have followed ever since: The consent of the Governed, given freely in an election process, who’s integrity is beyond question is the living heart of our Democracy. It is also crucial that the American People have full faith and confidence in the electoral process, from which the President derives authority. Let me make my own resolve clear: No matter what the outcome, America will make the transition to a new administration with dignity, with full respect for the freely expressed will of the People, and with pride in the Democracy we are privileged to share. And I want all Americans, indeed, the whole World, to be absolutely assured of that.
"I don’t believe it’s appropriate for me to take questions, or comment further, at this time; but I’m going to ask Secretary Daley, and former Secretary of State, Warren Christopher to follow this statement with comments of their own. Secretary Daley, and campaign manager, Donna Brazil met with Joe Lieberman and me, and we agreed to ask Warren Christopher to play a key role in the process from here forward. Thank you very much."
Gore campaign Chairman, William Daley: "..and so, we have asked Secretary Christopher to come here. He and I will be leaving shortly after this gathering, to go to Florida. Um…we have a number of people who flew down to Florida yesterday, er…early this morning, uh, to be part of the process and to try to gather facts and information, as to exactly what is the process and how we proceed. And I’m sure there are a whole host of questions that you all have, and we can get to a few of those; but I’ll start with just saying: As you can imagine in such a short period, there is a whole host of information that none of us have right now. And, uh, we will not, uh, try to get into the guessing game or hypothetical games, as best one can; understanding your need for some clarity through this process. At this time though, let me ask Secretary Christopher to step forward and make some brief remarks."
Former U.S. Secretary of State, Warren Christopher: "Thanks Bill. I watched the election returns in my home in Los Angles area last night, um, and it went on a lot longer than I anticipated it would. Just about the time I was ready to go to bed, uh, Secretary Daley called and asked if I’d join him down here to serve as his advisor, as this process went forward; and I’m glad to do that. I mention that though, because for me this is only twelve hours old, and I’m beginning to get briefed up on the matter to understand what the facts and issues are. Our purpose is clear. We want to insure that, uh, legislative process—process of counting, uh, last night—and the underlying voting process is fair, accurate, and that we resolve that in a timely way, given the importance of the issues involved. We’ll have that as our target; uh, try to insure, make the American people comfortable in understanding that the process was done in a fair, and forthright, and honorable way; and that we have taken the steps to insure that. As I say, I’m just beginning to get briefed up on the matter, and we’ll continue to do that the next twelve hours or so…but we’ll be glad to try to answer any questions you have at the present time."
(Question inaudible)
Bill Daley: "We, uh, there’s no question he is ahead in the popular vote, and in the electoral vote. There is one state left to be decided. We believe when those votes are counted, and that process is complete, totally complete; Al Gore will have won the Electoral College and the popular vote; and therefore is, uh, will be the next President."
(Question inaudible)
Bill Daley: "No, wait-wait…wait; no one’s challenging, dragging, trying to drag anything out! There is a process that is moving forward, less than twelve hours old. I think the American people, who voted overwhelmingly—uh, the largest number ever voted for a Democrat, I believe, since Lyndon Johnson at least—uh, that those peoples’ rights should be protected. And not only is the Vice President ahead in the popular vote, he is ahead in the Electoral College."
Reporter: "Secretary Daley, Secretary Christopher; how close is this country now to, uh, sort of an unprecedented constitutional-crisis because of this situation?"
Warren Christopher: "We’re, um, not, I think, on the edge of a Constitutional crisis. Uh, we’re following rules laid down by the laws of Florida. What’s taking place here is very much in the context of what is anticipated under Florida law. We intend to follow that. And so, as I say, this issue is only twelve hours old. I will have to agree…I think all of you would second this; this is really an extraordinary event. Last night was an extraordinary night. None of us have ever seen anything quite like it. But I don’t have any reason to think we are on the edge of a constitutional crisis; and we don’t intend to provoke a constitutional crisis. We want to insure, as I said before, that the election in Florida, as well as the election in the whole country, was accurately and fairly counted, and to do that in a timely manner; taking into account the ultimate importance of the matter."
"Can you tell us about the two phone calls between the Vice President and Governor Bush last ni.."
ABC’s Robert Crowich’ partial report: "..Fox Network figured Al Gore can’t catch up now, so they called the state; and very quickly—perhaps for competitive reasons—so did everybody else. But again, it turned out they moved too fast. Those first pro-Bush votes from Broward were quickly followed by thousands of pro-Gore votes; so Bush’s fifty-thousand vote lead was reduced very quickly to a lead of 224 votes. Time to eat crow, again."
ABC’s anchor, Peter Jennings: "Well I said we didn’t know, what effect—if any—we’d had. In fact we had some, in the form of premature congratulations from several capitals overseas. They heard those projections in the media as well, and in the capitals of—among other places—France and China and Russia: the leaders immediately issued statements congratulating George Bush. They, like us, took it back a little later on."
West Palm Beach News Conference; Jessie Jackson: "..A great campaign, by two worthy opponents. In Democracy, everybody counts. Every vote must count. At this point we do not know who won the election, because all the votes have not been counted. Once all the votes are counted, we must honor and respect the winner. The winner must win with grace; the loser must be magnanimous. We do not know who won or lost, because we’ve not yet had a fair count on the first vote. We know: the people stood in long lines, and poles closed on them before they had a chance to vote. According to the law: if you are in line, and the poles close, all those in line must be counted. We know, many Haitian Americans were denied assistance in the voting booth (inaudible); can expect, and accept by law. We know, in some instances, of the shortage of ballots. People did show up to vote, and their votes must be counted: We know, in West Palm, people pushed the lever, as it were, for Gore, and they got Buchanan. Even…even Buchanan rejects votes he did not earn. Buchanan said: he did not campaign here; he did not really seek votes here; he believes those votes he got was based upon a mal-alignment of the process. If you’re driving your car down the road, and your wheels are not aligned properly: you have a wreck!; And, on Tuesday, that was a wreck in West Palm! (strong roar from the crowd) This Ballot is fuzzy. It is…it is deceptive. But my friends, we remain disciplined, and focused; we will win because we voted. I’m impressed with this coalition. Here we stand, in multiracial, multicultural, American; one big tent coalition. If we lose in West Palm, the issue here today is not about black and white; it’s about wrong and right!
Gore campaign Chairman, Bill Daley: "..We believe this requires the full attention of the Courts in Florida, and concerned citizens all across our country. More than a-hundred-million Americans voted on Tuesday, and more voted for Al Gore than Governor Bush. Here in Florida, it also seems very likely that more voters went to the poles believing they were voting for Al Gore, than for George Bush. If the will of the people is to prevail, Al Gore should be awarded a victory in Florida and be our next President. Let me focus on the problem of Palm Beach County: There, due to the confusing ballot, many voters who believed they were voting for Al Gore had their votes counted for Pat Buchanan: no other explanation for his 3400 vote total; the sum three times larger than what he did in any other county, and ten-times the number of Reform Voters, as listed. This seems implausible. I’m told, even Mr. Buchanan recognizes as much. Based on the totals from other counties, there seems every reason to believe that well over twenty thous…two thousand of these votes were votes for Vice President Al Gore; more than enough to make him the winner here in Florida. In addition, there were more than 19,000 ballots cast in Palm Beach County, that were not tabulated at all: because voters, faced with this confusing ballot, apparently punched two holes instead of one. These logical conclusions are reinforced by the phone-calls, faxes and other reports from over a thousand residents of Palm Beach County, that have poured into us, saying they believe they were victims of this ballot confusion.
"In response to this clear injustice: what does the Bush Campaign say? They blithely dismiss; to disenfranchise of thousands of Floridians as being the usual sort of mistake made at elections; They cite legal provisions.. They put a demand of finality ahead of the pursuit of fairness.. More importantly; let me be clear (about) what is at stake here: Technicalities should not determine the Presidency of the United States; the will of the people should. Demanding an end to this election, is not the same as demanding that the person, who The People want as President, takes office..
"..Today, the appropriate Florida Democratic officials will be requesting a hand count of ballots in Palm Beach County, as well as three other counties.. In addition today, I’m announcing that we will be working with voters from Florida, in support of legal actions to demand some redress for the disenfranchisement of more than twenty-thousand-voters in Palm Beach County. We believe with so much at stake, steps should be taken to make sure that the Peoples’ choice becomes our President. In addition, we are still collecting accounts of other irregularities, voter intimidations, and other oddities in other parts of the state; and if substantiated, and appropriate, they too will become part of legal actions.
"Now let me address the concerns of those who say that these actions will delay the conclusion of this election; or somehow, we are seeking to drag this out. All we are seeking is this: That the candidate who the voters preferred, become our President. That is what our Constitutional principles demand. That is what true fidelity to our Constitution suggests. That is what the American people deserve. Moreover, we will move this matter ahead as quickly as is possible. We do not want delay. What we want, however, is democracy-fulfilled.
"Finally, let me address some remarks to the Bush campaign. I believe that their actions—to try to presumptively crown themselves the victors, to try to put in place a Transition—run the risk of dividing the American people and creating a sense of confusion.
"Let the legal system run its course. Let the true and accurate will of the people prevail. And, if at the end of the process, George Bush is the victor, we will honor and obviously respect those results. But we would expect the same adherence to the rule of law and Democratic process from their campaign in return. Bold claims—not based on the will of the people—endanger the orderly transition of power: Taking the time, to ensure that The People choices (chooses) our President, is the best way to respect our Democratic values, and honor our Constitution.."
Warren Christopher: "We’ve come to believe there are serious, and substantial irregularities, resulting from the ballot used only in one county. That that ballot was confusing and, uh, illegal. And arising out of this, is the need for redress in order to make sure that the will of the people can be, um, properly honored in this situation.."
Pat Buchanan on CNN, talking about the Palm Beach County ballot [missing first part]: "..The dots: 1, 2; are Bush, Buchanan. And so my guess is, I probably got some votes down there that really did not belong to me; and uh, I feel…I do not feel well about that. I don’t want to take any votes that don’t belong to me."
BBC WORLD NEWS’ Gaven Hewitt, in Tallahassee: "Republicans are accusing the Democrats of sour-grapes; of threatening legal action to undermine the will of the people."
{Former US Secretary of State, now the Bush campaign lead attorney, James Baker: "It’s a ballot that’s been used before; it was approved by an elected Democratic official, and there were no complaints when, and accordance with Florida law, everybody had the chance to complain."}
"BBC WORLD NEWS’ anchor: The results of the recount are unlikely to resolve the question of who’s going to be President. The Democrats have said that Al Gore is unlikely to concede without first counting the postal vote, and that may take a week. Today students arrived at the Capitol Building and sat down in protest, demanding an end to voting irregularities.. ..These are testing days for America’s democracy.. ..We are going to go live now, to Tallahassee, Florida:"
Florida Secretary of State; Katharine Harris: "Good afternoon. As Secretary of State, I am Chief Elections Officer; and I would like to introduce to you the Elections Canvassing Commission that will be certifying the state recount results: Commissioner Bob Crawford, Commissioner of Agriculture; and, Clay Roberts, the Division Director for State of Florida, um, Division of Elections.
"We will all remember these times as some of the most critical, and defining moments in our nation’s history. A time when we as Americans are working to ensure the meaning and vitality of our Democratic system. To that end, here in Florida, our local supervisors of elections, our division of election staff, and countless volunteers have dedicated themselves to the accurate reporting of the election results. All of us take this responsibility seriously, given the national implications of this election, and our statutory responsibility to ensure the integrity, and accuracy of our election’s process. This recount is mandated by Florida law, whenever a final ballot puts the margin of victory at less than one half of one percent. The Department of State requested all of our locally-elected supervisors of elections, to forward their recount results by five-PM today. As of five, the Divisions of Elections reported receiving recount results from 53 counties in Florida. We are still awaiting for the results from the Supervisors of Elections in 14 Florida counties, which, by law, have until Tuesday, November 14th to submit those returns to the office of the Secretary of State.." (BBC abandons live coverage here).
BBC anchor: "We now go to Nashville Tennessee in the Gore camp, and join our World Affairs Editor, Jon Simpson. Uh, Jon; I don’t know if you were across that news conference; but the margin of victor..—well, almost victory for George Bush in Florida—after 53 counties in the recount, is still 1784-votes. I would imagine the Democrats wouldn’t have been that aggressive about taking legal action, if they thought they had the votes in the recount anyway?"
Jon Simpson: "Well I’m not quite sure about that, really. I mean, I think they feel that there’s been a sort of generalized injustice done; that things aren’t right, that they deserve better: that having got a majority—no matter how small of the popular vote—that really, all of these kind of things have got to be checked out. That’s certainly the will of the party, and of the ordinary members of the party and many people who voted for Gore. So I think, really, in a sense they’re doing what they’ve got to do. Uh, it’s in the hands of the lawyers to some extent, and allowing them to dictate it at the moment. But of course on the political side, there’ll be plenty of people looking around to see: Are they suggesting that Mr. Gore is a wrecker?; is the feeling growing that he’s been a bad loser?; and so on. And if that’s the case, I suppose at some stage they’ll try and pull out of it. But at the moment, they’ve got to go full steam ahead, just to check it all out."
CBS NEWS anchor, Dan Rather: "Good evening. The deadlocked Presidential election is still in limbo tonight. It could be more than a week, perhaps longer than that before we know whether Texas Governor George Bush or Vice President Al Gore is the next President. Here’s the latest: The official recount of the closely contested Florida vote tonight is not yet finished. Bush’s lead, about 1800 votes with no new results released; that’s the official tally. So far only 53 of 67 Florida counties have reported in. And the new deadline set tonight for all counties to submit recounts, is now next Tuesday. Deepening the confusion, this comes as county-by-county results tallied by news organizations indicate that Bush’s lead over Gore in Florida has dwindled down into just a few hundred votes. This includes West Palm Beach. But a second recount begins there, by hand on Saturday.."
CBS’ Bill Whitaker: "Bush campaign Chairman Don Evans accused the Gore camp of playing selfish politics with an election process, Governor Bush has called sacred: {Don Evans: ‘The Democrats who are politicizing and distorting these events, risk doing so at the expense of our Democracy.’} Using Blunt language, chief strategist Karl Rove claimed the number of spoiled ballots in Palm Beach County, Florida, and the high number of votes for Pat Buchanan there were not unusual. And those controversial, confusing butterfly ballots, similar to those used in the home county of Gore’s Chairman, Bill Daley.. ..For now, the (Bush) campaign is putting that option (to recount in other states) on hold, calculating that all this political maneuvering makes the Democrats look desperate: {Don Evans: ‘..our Democratic process calls for a vote on election day. It does not call for us to continue voting until someone likes the outcome.’}"
ABC anchor, Peter Jennings: "One other item; in Missouri: A Republican Senator wants an investigation into alleged voter fraud. Christopher Bonds, accuses Democrats of cheating in a very close election, that saw Republican Senator John Ashcroft lose his seat to the Late Mel Carnahan. Senator Bonds says: ‘The poles were open too late in St. Louis—the Democratic stronghold—and that the ballot boxes were not being watched’."
Reporter Sam Donaldson: "Are you confident that your son is the next President of the United States?"
Former President, George H. W. Bush: "I’m confident he’s doin’ the right thing, and doin’ it with dignity, and respect, and, uh; we’re very, very proud of him. And I’m very pleased that he has Jim Baker helping him there. And I’m very proud of Jeb; uh, I’ll tell ya’, as a dad; some of what’s been said about him—questioning, uh, him—it’s just…just kills me.
Sam Donaldson: "Do you think it’ll come out alri.."
Female reporter also there, overheard saying: "Do you support the recount?"
George H. W. Bush: "And Sam, it’s the most nervous time in my entire life..! I’ll leave that to the pro’s; I’m a father, a very proud father; proud of the way my son has conducted himself, and is conductin’ himself; and uh, it’s very hard, Sam, to, uh, describe it to people; but that’s where it is for Barbara and me."
Sam Donaldson: "But you know what it is on election night! I mean, you’ve been through it yourself, many times.."
George H. W. Bush: "I have. I know exactly what it’s like, an.."
Sam: "..you’ve won, and you’ve lost.."
George H. W. Bush: "But this one…this one was much more emotional. It’s like a roller-coaster there; in…in George’s little upstairs bedroom—and you’re gonn’a get soaked!—and I’m gonn’a get in trouble with Barbara Bush!; and you know what that means, so I’m gettin’ out’a here."
Sam: "How Did he.."
George H. W. Bush: "Get out’a here..! What are you.."
Sam: "How did he react to this, roller-coaster; I mea.."
George H. W. Bush: "Like a man! With great strength! I, really--I’m not just saying that—but ya’ should’a…ya’ should’a been there; and you’d understand why Barbara and I are so very, very proud of this son of ours. Thank you!"
MSNBC anchor, Brian Williams: "So now, Bush and Gore are separated, as of this moment—what we know, and this isn’t a complete count yet; this is with 65 out of 67 counties reporting and none of the absentees from overseas folks—225 votes separate these two!"
MSNBC’s Pete Williams: "..Based on what you were just talking with Kerry Sanders about—about the Florida courts deciding the outcome of the election—I was talking earlier today with Professor Terrence Anderson, who knows Florida election law, at the University of Miami (Law School); and he says: that is precisely the problem, for Judges there. That they’re well aware that; they’re not just deciding the accuracy of a county election. That if they, on the one hand, go with what the Gore people may ask them to do, that would invalidate the votes of everybody, uh, who wasn’t complaining about the accuracy of their votes. It’s a very difficult question; and here is the legal standard from a 1998, two year old, State Supreme Court Decision. It says: ‘If the Court finds substantial noncompliance with the laws on how elections are conducted, and also makes a factual determination that reasonable doubt exists, as to whether a certified election expressed the will of the voters: then the Court is to void the results and order a new election."
On MSNBC’s Hardball; Former President George H. W. Bush’ Chief of Staff, John Sununu: "Everybody is making two assumptions here: That all those ballots were for Gore; and secondly.."
Chris Matthews: "No..! We’re talking about the ballots where there’s a double vote; that’s what we’re assuming: They voted for Buchanan-and-Gore; and the assumption is, they intended to vote for Gore because his was the third punch; the third hole to punch.."
John Sununu: "No…all you know is, 19,000 were thrown out! You don’t know who they were for; and so don’t make that erroneous assumption, that Begala and company have been trying to create a false impression, which is.."
Jimmy Carter’s former Presidential Advisor, CNN Crossfire’s Paul Begala: "The Governor is right. The Governor is right! Let’s have an evidentiary-hearing and get the evidence; and let’s find out!"
John Sununu: "But it doesn’t make any difference. It happens all the time! The issue of the structure of the ballot, if you look at it you will see that the Buchanan button—that they’re supposed to punch out—is equally placed between Gore and…and uh, Bush. It can be equally punched out by someone who intends to, uh, vote for Gore, or Bush, or Buchanan. The issue is, this happens in elections everywhere around the country.."
Chris Matthews: "No…no, the issue is not so clear, Governor. The issue here is either one of the following: It’s either we observe the technical law, as written; like it or not, some people get it wrong: Last time there were around 14,000 ballots disallowed in that county; this time around, it may be 19,000. That is the way it works, some people don’t vote correctly: Or, we go to a higher authority, as the Gore people are demanding now, and we try to find out what was in the mind of the people who voted. You can’t try to honor that? Isn’t that what you want, Paul..?"
John Sununu: "No law; no precedent; no…no history of elections, says we’re gonn’a back…go back and try and divine from retrospective data, what people might have done under different circumstances.."
Paul Begala: "That’s actually not true..!"
John Sununu: "That’s…that’s absolutely ridiculous!"
MSNBC’s Howard Fineman: "Everybody’s focusing on Palm Beach—which is part of the story—but my sense is that the Gore people would like to get this whole election into Federal Court, not State Court. Don’t forget, that Florida is a Voting Rights Act State because of its history in the South. That means special close scrutiny by the federal government; and I think that could be a factor here: if somebody alleges age-discrimination, if somebody alleges racial-discrimination.."
Chris Matthews: "Let me put to you a particular case. Allen Feinman—who’s a friend of mine who’s an attorney in that area, who’s worked a lot of election fights before—was arguing that one of the remedies available to the people trying to fix this (if they want to fix it) is to use statistics. To try to look at a community where everybody votes straight Democrat the rest of the ticket. But on that portion of the ticket that dealt with the presidency, they double-voted. And, assume, based upon their general pattern of voting, they wanted to vote straight Democratic—including, voting for the candidate of the Democratic party for President, Al Gore—but accidentally they punched also the hole for Pat Buchanan. Is that not an attempt to find ‘state of mind;’ and, proceed from state-of-mind, to figure out what that person should have voted as; and then give them the credit for that state of mind, and that vote?"
John Sununu: "Do you really believe what you’re saying..?"
Chris Matthews: "I’m believing that that is the intention of these people; yes."
John Sununu: "I cannot believe that you are trying to take the rubbish.."
Chris Matthews: "Me..? Not me..! I’m quoting what they’re saying, John!"
John Sununu: "Oh, I don’t care what they’re saying! They’re trying…[blah, blah!]"
48-HOURS anchor, Dan Rather; in a discussion with CBS NEWS associates: "Should either one of these men say, ‘I’m going to put this country first, and concede?"
Bob Schieffer: "Well, I think, until all of these votes are counted down in Florida, including those famous absentee ballots; until all of that is done I don’t think anybody ought to do anything, except put kind of a chill on all this partisan rhetoric that we’ve heard so much of today. But once the counting is done, one of these men—both of these men—must remember: their first responsibility is to the country. We don’t live in Serbia; we don’t live in some ‘banana republic.’ This is America, where we go by the rules and accept the results. They have to remember that and wind this up, because it could really damage the Presidency."
48-HOURS’ Richard Schlesinger’s—and other CBS NEWS personnel’s—broadcasted story: "On his way back to Austin at the end of the campaign, it was a back-slapping, fast talking George Bush. Upbeat about what he knew would be a long night, and a tight race." …
"In Nashville, Tennessee, Vice President Al Gore’s campaign for the White House ended on a similar high note, as he returned to his home state to vote, and watch the election returns with his family. The high hopes continued throughout the evening, as supporters gathered at Nashville’s War Memorial Plaza. Despite the threat of rain, the ‘Stars’ were all out. But even his staunchest supporters were unprepared for the surprising boost, that came just before 7-pm local time: {"Florida goes for Al Gore! Al Gore wins the big one in Florida; and if you hear that noise outside your windows and walls, it’s probably coming from Nashville, Tennessee!" announces Dan Rather.} No one was more excited by the news than Gore aids, Michael Feldman and Chris Lahane; but the ride was about to get even crazier." …
"In Austin, it was a little more subdued. Governor Bush was working the phones, surrounded by his family and aids. Not conceding anything, especially Florida; the most valuable prize of the night. It turns out he was right, as Florida went from Gore; to undecided; to Bush: the Governor appeared to go from loser, to limbo, to winning the Presidency all in a matter of hours. Bush supporters waited out in the rain; and at 1:15am, local-time, the election was called: ‘Bush Wins!’ It looked like it was over, despite the ifs, ands, and buts; the election seemed.." …
"By now, in Nashville, it was more than light rain dampening the spirits. Press Secretary Chris Lahane, and senior adviser Michael Feldman were across town at the Lowes Hotel; when Vice President Al Gore told his family, he had lost the election. And at approximately 1:30 in the morning, local-time, the Vice President made the difficult call to Governor Bush to congratulate him: {"Once we thought, uh, that we had lost, he did not hesitate for a second to pick up that phone."} Feldman then accompanied the Vice President as he headed out to give his concession speech. But a funny thing happened on the way to the Memorial Plaza: It was news that the race in Florida was a lot closer than they thought: {"When we left the hotel," says Chris Feldman, "we were told the margin was fifty-thousand votes, and growing; but when we got into the cars and started driving, Michael paged me, and said: ‘You know this thing is only six-thousand-votes, and closing’. Suddenly we realized this thing was very close and not yet determined. Um…and so we went to the War Memorial to sort things out".} Lahane, who was still back at the hotel received a similar call. There was a mad dash to get the Vice President to reconsider. Sometime around two-thirty-a.m., Gore called Bush back. This time, to tell him he’d changed his mind: ‘He wanted to make sure he’d had that conversation, personally!’ According to reports; he (Gore) said: ‘The race is too close to call,’ and he was going to wait it out." …
"Bush reportedly said: ‘You mean to tell me, Mr. Vice President: you’re retracting your concession?’ According to those same reports, Bush also said: his brother Jeb, the Governor of Florida, had told him he’d won the state." …
"Those on the Vice President’s end said; Gore (then) told Bush: ‘You don’t have to be snippy about it. Let me explain something to you,’ the Vice President continued, ‘Your younger brother is not the ultimate authority on this’. The phone call ended abruptly. {"It certainly was a surprise, um, that someone who had called to concede the election, was calling back to retract that concession," says Karen Hughes.} Bush Communications Director, Karen Hughes, who was in the room, was diplomatic the morning after the call: {"The final outcome was; ‘Well, Mr. Vice President, I need…to do what you have to do,’ and she continued, "Um, and that’s pretty much the crux of it…it was a, uh…it was a, um, uh an amazing…it was an amazing night!"} On one point these campaigns may agree: It’s an ironic and fitting conclusion, for the first election of the high-tech millennium."
CBS’ 48-HOURS’, Ed Bradley: "Dan, if the Presidential election is to be decided in Florida, both George Bush and Al Gore have one person to thank, or to blame: Ralph Nader. While attention focuses on the hundreds of votes separating the major candidates there, what is often not shown is this number: 96,844. That’s what Ralph Nader received in Florida on Tuesday. On the political stump, Ralph Nader hurled abuse at Democrats and Republicans with equal disdain. So did his television commercials.. As Nader’s showing in the polls began to rise, Democrats told him they feared his campaign would cost Al Gore the election. He was not impressed: {"Only Al Gore can beat Al Gore," Nader said, "and he’s been doing a pretty good job of that: Up-against one of the most bumbling, Republican candidate, George W. Bush: and he’s still!, in a neck-and-neck race..?"} Senator Robert Torrecelli, of New Jersey heads the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee. Like many Democrats he feels betrayed by Nader: {"Ralph Nader, has done his own cause enormous damage. He may have defeated Al Gore as President of the United States: And, the Health Care, Education and the Environmental Objectives that he claims to support will have suffered an enormous setback’.} On Tuesday, votes for Nader could have changed the outcome in Iowa, and New Hampshire—which Gore lost—and in New Mexico and Oregon which still have not been decided; as well as in Florida.."
Dan Rather (a later segment): "The Bush campaign has enlisted the help of another distinguished former U.S. Secretary of State: James Baker, of Houston. He joins us now from Tallahassee Florida: Mr. Secretary, thanks for being with us. Uh, if, by any stretch, George Bush should lose the recount in Florida; is he prepared to accept that and say the presidency is Al Gore’s?"
James Baker: "Well…well, I suppose, yes…if he were to lose the recount. But we’re quite confident that we’re not going to lose the recount. But I gott’a say somethin’ here, Dan, uh: we’ve had a vote; we’ve had a count; and now we’re having a recount; it’s almost concluded, and we hear, uh, today, that the Gore campaign wants yet a third count. Now this is a…this is an extraordinarily dangerous road we’re…we’re-we’re taking. Uh, ya’ know, uh, we’re, we’re dead-…we’re, per’ty darn close to the Gore totals in Wisconsin, and Iowa. We may win New Mexico; but if we lose it, we’re gonn’a lose it very narrowly. Uh; suppose we started asking for recounts in all of those states? The purpose of this election is to elect a Constitutional government; not to engage in endless litigation, and requests for recounts. And, so the…the country really ought’a think about what this is doing to our Constitutional system, and to our Constitutional process."
Dan Rather: "Now, what you just said—whether you intended to do so or not—will strike some people as a threat: are you; or are you not, saying: ‘Well if we lose this recount in Florida, then we are going to ask for recounts in Wisconsin, Iowa and New Mexico?’"
James Baker: "No…no; I’m definitely not saying that; but I’m asking that people focus on what could happen. There would be no reasonable end to the process, if…if both campaigns were to do, frankly, what the Gore Campaign is doing; or trying to do here in Florida. That’s the only point I’m making."
Dan Rather: "Secretary James Baker; wish we had the rest of the night. I do thank you for coming in to make your point. Thank you, very much."
James Baker: "You’re sure welcome."
FOX Network’s The O’Reilly Factor; Bill O’Reilly: "You just said something, again! You think the American People should be heard. But yet, 19,000 of ’em aren’t heard in the state of Florida!"
FOX NEWS’ political analyst—and the former Republican Speaker Of The House—Newt Gingrich: "But how many othe…how many other states did you have people, who could now come out and say: ‘Gee, now that I think about it; I’m not really sure’: Ya’ know? Do the Buchanan voters get to come out now, and say: ‘Well gee, now maybe now I want to be for, uh, for Bush, uh; I really didn’t mean to vote the way I voted…the-the, the..’"
Bill O’Reilly: "No..! In Florida it would be the election…it is the election. In the other states it’s not the election. In Florida, it is the election: That’s…that’s gonn’a haunt me, as pr…as an American; the fact that 19,000 people may have wanted a guy, that they couldn’t get in. Now; I don’t feel sorry for those people…ya’ know; ya’ see what I mean? I don’t feel sorry for them as individuals: they made a mistake.."
Newt Gingrich: "Dell’-an’…and I think you’re making a big jump: I mean—how do ya’ know that?—that there’re 19,000 apparently-spoiled ballots..?"
Bill O’Reilly: "Right."
Newt Gingrich: "How do we know who they were for..!"
Bill O’Reilly: "Because historically, the district is a Democratic district; that’s how we know."
Newt Gingrich: "Well I mean, again.."
Bill O’Reilly: "We’re not positive.."
Newt Gingrich: "We’re not positive! I’m just saying—you know—my experience of these kind of events is; somebody says something…’member the…’member the ‘locked box’ the other day?"
Bill O’Reilly: "Yeah."
Newt Gingrich: "There was this locked box. It’d been found: It was a sign…it was a Democratic precinct. It was a lost (inaudible); turned out to be school supplies..!"
Bill O’Reilly: "Dade County!"
Newt Gingrich: "And…and they have two more counties; and the absentee ballots, and we’ll know."
Bill O’Reilly: Okay. Mr. Speaker, it was a pleasure."
At the White House, MSNBC’s Bob Kerr: "History is being made right here in the White House on this rainy night in Washington. Never before have so many Former Presidents and First Ladies gathered in the East Room, as the Clintons hosted ‘Ladybird’ Johnson—as you say—Gerald, and Betty Ford; Jimmy, and Rosalind Carter; George, and Barbara Bush: their presence, of special interest on a night like this, with their son still fighting to live here! You mention the Reagans not here, of course, because of the former President’s Alzheimers. Now timing is everything of course, Brian; people thought that by tonight, the date of this party, everyone would know who the next Occupant at the White House would be; but that’s not the case. So at this party, which is celebrating two-hundred years of Presidential continuity, there is an air of uncertainty. In his Toast, President Clinton solutes all of those here; saying: their all fine, and they’ve made great contributions. But he also said: ‘Praise goes to those, yet to grace the halls of the White House;’ even as the question of who would succeed him here remains a mystery.."
US Attorney General, Janet Reno: "We must be careful that we don’t do anything that politicizes what is a very important moment in American history; when we should all be working together, to see that the voice of the American people has properly been heard."
CNN’s Judy Woodruff: "Reno says: Among the complaints she has received is a challenge by the NAACP, regarding the way the Florida balloting was conducted."
CNN’s anchor, Bernard Shaw: "Question, Bill: What if a judge orders a revote; say, in Palm Beach County?"
CNN’s political analyst, Bill Schneider: "You know; That would be very strange, Bernie. The revote would be among exactly the same voters who voted in that county on election day. But they would know something, no voters anywhere knew on election day; which is: how the rest of the country voted. A President of The United States would be elected by the voters of Palm Beach County! Can you imagine that campaign?"
MSNBC’s Brian Williams: "One of the problems surrounding this election had to do with 19,000 ballots, that have been dumped—kicked out of the system, as often happens in elections—because they are falsely filled in. In this case, they are double-punched: A lot of votes for Pat Buchanan, followed by a lot of votes for Al Gore. And it’s often in that tandem that these bad ballots were found. We have Pat Buchanan, Presidential candidate here with us tonight. And Mr. Buchanan; I’m going to put a graphic up on the screen that shows the voting pattern; and you see, it goes county by county by county in Florida…suddenly they get to Palm Beach; and there’s this surge in interest for the Buchanan campaign. Now the Bush folks say: there’s a lot of registered Reformers there. Are there, that many?"
Pat Buchanan: "Well as I said, Brian: I do believe a lot of people cast a ballot for me, and they intended to vote for Al Gore. Now candor, and honesty compel me to admit that it is an outside vote for me: I got three-times as many votes in, uh, Palm Beach County as I did in Pinellus (County); where we had much more of an advertising effort. So let me concede that point; but at the same time, the votes cast for me are…are my votes. And when you recount ’em, you got’a count ’em as my votes. We can’t open this thing up and ask people: ‘Say, did you make a bad mistake, and did you intend to vote for someone else?’ This is done! And you just gott’a count the votes."
Brian Williams: "Are you going to be a party to any action on this?"
Pat Buchanan: "I’m not gonn’a involve myself in any action whatsoever on this; and I hope and pray Mr. Gore does not drag this thing into the courts. In 1960, Richard Nixon—everybody now says—behaved with great dignity and honor, in refusing to challenge what was a fraudulent and corrupt election in Cook County under Richard J. Daley. And I think Mr. Gore—if he loses the recount, and they count the absentee’s and he’s lost it—ought to do the right and honorable thing, as Nixon did, and concede that Mr. Bush is the next President of the United States."
Brian Williams: "Do you just think, this just falls into the tough-luck category of life; that 19,000 people just plum made a mistake; didn’t understand, and screwed it up?"
Pat Buchanan: "Well you know; Jack Kennedy said: ‘life is unfair’. He’s the beneficiary of a stolen election in 1960. Nixon lost. He was the loser in that election. This was not fraud. I do think, that, uh…that what you say has some, uh…has some truth. There’s nothin’ that can be done about it. It’s honest mistakes. But that ballot was vetted; it’s been published in the paper; the Democrats signed off; the Republicans signed off; they used it before; they used it in Cook County; and now, suddenly it’s become illegal and outrageous because some folks moved in too quickly, and may have voted for me. You can’t do that! We’re not a banana republic..!"
David Letterman: "For six weeks; everybody said it’s going to be a very close election!"
ABC’s Cokie Roberts: "We had that part right..!"
David Letterman: "Absolutely; and it looks like the popular vote in Florida is like a 3, to 4-hundred-vote difference! So, uh: Is this a good thing..? Is this a bad thing? Does this mean something has gone wrong?; or does this mean: this is something that just crops up every hundred years or so, and we’ll handle it?"
Cokie Roberts: "Well, we’ll handle it. I think what could happen is—if we go for a long period of time without a President—we might discover: we don’t need one!" (much laughter, clapping).
David Letterman: "How ’bout that!..!"
Cokie Roberts: "I do have something shocking to tell you along these lines, though; which is that: if we really go for a long period of time…well, say, the Electoral College can’t vote in December, when they officially vote, because the popular-vote is still not clear: And then they come, and the Congress convenes; and the Electoral College official vote is in early January and it’s all screwed up; and Congress can’t figure it out—you know, ’cause that’s normal—and um, by January 20th, we don’t have a President. So then you go down the line of succession to the Presidency, right?; and the first person in line is—of course—the Vice President; but we don’t have one of those, either. So the first person, after that, is the Speaker Of The House, Dennis Hasert: now, he doesn’t want that job—because you only get it for a month or so, until there’s a President—and then he can’t be Speaker anymore: So…the next person in line for the Presidency: Strom Thurman!"
David Letterman: "Wow..! Goodness! Really..? Good Lord!"

Friday, November 10th—
CNN’s morning co-anchor, Darren Hagin’s, intro: "History unfolds. We have a current President; but the big question: Who will occupy the White House the next four years. Election day 2000 stretches into election week. A recount is finished in Florida but the wrangling over votes goes on: The numbers; and what’s next, as the process grows more complicated. Two candidates, and two ideologies and a country divided along party lines."
CNN’s reporter Jeanne Meserve: "Good morning Darren. It is interesting that the Bush campaign is reacting somewhat more cautiously to the recount results, than one might have expected, given what they’ve been saying over the last couple of days. You just heard Karen Hughes repeat what she said in a written statement this morning, which is: ‘We won Tuesday night,’ that, ‘The recount has confirmed that result’. In the written statement that she issued this morning, she also said: ‘We hope Vice President Gore and his campaign will reconsider their threats of lawsuits, or still more recounts which could undermine the constitutional process of selecting a President; and has no foreseeable end’. Now you may recall that on Wednesday, the Governor—himself—spoke outside the Governor’s Mansion; and he said: ‘If we win this recount, we have won the race’. Nobody in the campaign has said that yet this morning. Neither have they called for a concession from Vice President Al Gore. In part, at least, one official (from the Bush campaign) tells me, ‘Because these are still unofficial results; not the Official results, but just an A.P. (Associated Press) tally at this point’.. I talked with Bush campaign officials this morning about some of the other states where they’re close; and specifically Iowa and Wisconsin, where the vote is so tight that recounts could be required, or requested: Nothing to report on that front, from the Bush campaign."
CNN’s co-anchor; Wash. Bureau Chief, Frank Sesno : "Now let’s turn right to John Karl: John, you and I have been tracking this; there is a fresh response from the Gore campaign, to what the Bush folks are stating?"
CNN’s Jonathan Karl: "Well the Gore campaign is absolutely astounded—they say—that the George W. Bush campaign, would say: ‘Hey! Let’s end this now, based on an unofficial tally from the A.P. that has the margin (in Bush’s favor) of 327 votes’. They say: ‘How could you even think about calling this thing, before we see those overseas ballots?’ In fact there’s a statement from the campaign Chairman Bill Daley, directly on this point not-less than an hour ago. Chairman Daley said, and I quote: ‘Contrary to claims made this morning by the Bush campaign, this election is not over. Again, we want the true and accurate will of the people to prevail; and that means letting the legal system run its course. At the end of the process,’ Daley says; ‘if George Bush is declared the winner; we will respect that’.. ..Yes, not so fast! The recount in their view, is not done yet. Daley makes four points on this: One; is obviously the overseas ballots: ‘We’ve got to see what those show’. Secondly; four counties have been requested to count by hand, and two of those counties are still doing the recount by hand. Two (other counties): that request is still pending. The third thing is, they say—they quote the Florida Secretary of State, Katherine Harris—saying: ‘This election would not be completed for some time’. The fourth point comes down to Palm Beach; which of course gets beyond the recount."
NBC TODAY Show’s Katie Couric; while talking about New York Senator-elect, former First Lady Hillary Clinton: "Senator Oren Hatch, a Republican had a cordial phone call: He called her to congratulate her on her victory.
"But listen, to what Trent Lott had to say about Hillary Clinton following her win; quote: ‘I tell you one thing. When this, Hillary, gets to the Senate—if she does; (but) maybe lightning will strike, and she won’t—she will be one of a hundred, and we won’t let her forget it’. Not exactly the welcome wagon; huh?"
NEWSWEEK’s Howard Fineman: "Well I think Senator Lott should probably wake up and smell the coffee; because, the world of the Senate is gonn’a change big time when Hillary arrives. As a matter of fact, this would be the big story in Washington were it not for the other little matter you’ve been discussing all morning..!"
Bush current Campaign Lead Attorney; former George H.W. Bush-Administration Secretary of State, James Baker: "The vote here in Florida was very close. But when it was counted, Governor Bush was the winner. Now, three days later, the vote in Florida has been recounted. Over two-thirds of the state, Election Supervisors overseeing that recount are Democrats. At the end of this recount, Governor Bush is still the winner; subject only to counting the overseas ballots, which traditionally have favored the Republican candidates. No evidence of vote-fraud, either in the original vote, or in the recount, has been presented. Now the Gore campaign is calling for yet another recount, in selective and predominantly Democratic counties where there were large, unexplained vote swings in their favor, in the recount. It appears that the Gore campaign is attempting to unduly prolong the country’s national Presidential election, through endless challenges to the results of the vote; here in Florida. Furthermore, the more often ballots are recounted, especially by hand, the more likely it is that human errors; like lost ballots and other risks will be introduced. This frustrates the very reason why; we have moved from hand counting, to machine counting.
"Let me say a word, specifically, about the Palm Beach ballot. There’s a rule of law, to be followed in all elections. The state of Florida has established legal procedures to design, approve, publish, and, if need be, to protest ballots before the election. The ballot was designed by a Democratic elections Supervisor: she approved it; the Democratic Party did not question it before the election; this butterfly-type ballot was used in recent elections in the same county and under the same rules; and, again, the Democrats did not complain. The overwhelming number of voters who used the ballot, in this election, understood it, and they cast valid votes. Our lawyers have confirmed the legality of this ballot; and we have with us here today relevant copies, copies of the relevant Florida statutes; if you would like to have them.
"The Gore campaign has also tried to make a lot, of the fact, that double-marked ballots are not counted. A key principle, in American elections is ‘one person, one vote’. If we have ballots with two votes, of course we can’t count them and of course we can’t guess about them. Ballots that are double-marked can’t be evidence of the voter’s intent, to vote one way or the other. No jurisdiction in the United states of America, would accept such a ballot as a valid vote; and Florida law, specifically, does not. This happens in every precinct, and in every election, and the procedure is very clear: Those ballots have to be disregarded.
"We understand, and let me say, I understand, personally—because I’ve been involved in—that it is frustrating to lose an election by a narrow margin. But it happens; and it happened to the Republican Presidential candidates in 1960, and in 1976. Both Vice President Nixon, and President Ford, put the country’s interest first. They accepted the vote, for the good of the country. It is important, ladies and gentlemen, that there be some finality to the election process. What if we insisted on recounts in other states, that today, are very very close? For example; in Wisconsin, or in Iowa, or, if we should happen to lose it, in New Mexico.
"Let the country, step back, for a minute, and pause, and think about what’s at stake here. This may be, the last chance to do that. There is no, reasonable, end, to this process, if it slips away. It would not be, in the best interest of our wonderful country: And what’s happening, now, if I may say so, is not in the best interest, of our country. And there’s a way…and there’s a way to stop that. There’s a way to bring this thing back, before it spirals totally out of control; and bring it back to, uh…bring it back to rationality, and to finality; and…and that’s the responsible position, I think, uh; that…that, it would be my hope that, both candidates could take.
"Pres-…Governor Bush has made it very clear, that he participated in an open, transparent, recount; he’s willing to await the judgment of these overseas ballots, because they’ve never been counted; but as far as continuing to play this…this, uh game of, uh, unending, uh, wrangling out an’…and recount, after recount after recount [this mantra—and all its variations—basically now becomes one of the main G.W.Bush campaign’s—dishonestly fabricated—mantras, for people out there to pick up on and to repeat; but still, now: with no ballots having been openly inspected]; that’s, uh, that’s just not something we can do! Yes..?"
Reporter: (Question mostly inaudible, but about: other countries seeing this situation as an unstable America; and also: where the Presidency will not change for two months yet).
Jim Baker: "Well, we are more than two months away from the, uh, inauguration; but I will…I would almost, uh, bet you that, uh, in many foreign countries, they’re having a lot o’ difficulty understanding exactly what’s going on here; and why, particularly, given the tradition…the way we’ve traditionally handled these close elections in the United States, where the losing party puts the nation’s interest first. They’re hav…probably gonn’a have some difficulty understanding what’s happening here."
Reporter: "(inaudible)"
James Baker: "I’m making…I’m making the, uh, assertion that, uh, Governor Bush won the recount. You-all know what the numbers are. I’m also…Wait a minute…Just a minute..! Do ya’ want an answer; Or do you want to make a speech? Let me say this: I’m…what I’m saying is: We know why, the certifications have been delayed, from these very same counties, where we had these large, unexplained shifts toward, uh…toward the other campaign! If ya’…if the pro…if the mee…if the purpose here is delay, and endless wrangling, and recount after recount after recount; That game can be played; but that’s not the way…that’s not the road we ought to go down: That’s what I’m saying."
Reporter: "(inaudible) ..of the reasons; some of those ballots were not counted on election day, and again on the recount, was: there was no hole punched. There are reports that some ballots have pencil markings, from voters who were confused and circled the candidate’s name rather than do the hole punch: Does the Bush campaign believe those votes should not be counted?
James Baker: "Well, at…le-let me, let me refer ya’ to the lawyers…of the Florida lawyers on that. If the Flo…law of Florida is, that in order to vote the machine ballot, ya’ have ta’ punch a hole; and they don…and that isn’t done; than those votes are not gonn’a be counted. That’s all I can tell ya’.. ..One more question, right here."
Question: "(inaudible)"
James Baker: "Well, they ha…-all Floridians have voted!, and their votes have not only been counted, they’ve been counted twice! Except for the overseas ballot. That’s…that’s, uh, I think, beyond dispute; nobody’s gonn’a dispute that! Double-marked ballots haven’t been counted; but there’s no jurisdiction in the United States where we count double-marked ballots. Thank you, very very much."
CNN’s Frank Sesno: "Former Secretary of State, James Baker, speaking on behalf of the campaign of George W. Bush issuing a clear warning shot. A clear warning to the campaign and the camp of Al Gore. Saying that: if there are endless challenges here, that the Bush campaign will be virtually forced to respond in-kind. In Baker’s words: ‘The way to bring this…there is a way to bring this out before it spirals out of control,’ he said, ‘to bring it back to responsibility, and finality,’ taking specific aim at the Gore campaign’s efforts and requests to have more than one recount in some of the disputed counties. ‘That,’ says Baker, ‘is not the way the nation should be going’. He made a particular point of siting 1960, and 1976; when there were close, close elections. In 1976: he was in the room, he said, when Gerald Ford said: ‘No; I don’t want a recount in a hotly disputed place; where there are only 7000 votes separating us. It’s not good for the country; let’s get on with this thing,’ and then he’d conceded. (Today, Baker is) all but calling on al Gore to do that."
Former Carter Administration Secretary of State, Warren Christopher: "We wann’a get this resolved as soon as possible. We understand the need for a Transition; but these few days, I think are very justified in order to insure that the will of the American People is fully vindicated here, in this count."
Secretary Warren Christopher (at another location): "I think we’re proceeding in a very direct way. If there was escalation of rhetoric on the other side, in the last few hours; I’m not inclined to join it. I’m inclined to try to stay on the path of, uh, being affirmative about it; trying to carry out our duties here."
MSNBC’s Chip Reid: "And he even said Chris [Matthews], that when he met with Baker, they agreed they’d, quote: ‘We’d pledged ourselves to try to keep the rhetoric as low as possible’. The implications being that: Baker did not do that, but that Warren Christopher and Bill Daley did do that; so, uh, they are trying to make clear that they’re simply following that legal process, and they’re not the one’s who are ratchetting the rhetoric right now.
CBS EVENING NEWS’, Bob Schieffer: "..the rest of the votes counted in Florida; but, after that; do you think it would be time to rap it up?"
Leon Panetta: "What I’d like to see, frankly; is, instead of competing press-conferences here between the two campaigns, I think it would be nice to have Jim Baker and Warren Christopher, uh, do one press conference; in which they said that, uh: We’re going to go through with the completed recount here in Florida; that, we may challenge some of those, uh, ballots as we go through that process; we’re going to get the absentee ballots, and when the Secretary of State certifies the final vote in Florida; both sides will accept that result."
Senator Bob Dole: "Ya’ know?; if I were Al Gore, I would ask for a recount; and he did. But I think he’s had the recount, or will have (it) by the time the absentee ballots are in; and then we ought to move on."
Iowa Congressman, Richard Gephardt: "We gott’a slow down, take a deep breath, remain calm; tell all of our citizens to just remain calm.."
President Gerald Ford: "Take it from one who…who knows all about losing a close election: There is life after Inauguration Day."
Bob Schieffer: "But so far; neither Bush nor Gore seem ready to think about that."
Pat Buchanan: "I do not feel well about that; I do not wann’a take any votes that don’t belong to me."
COMEDY CHANNEL’s Daily Show’s, Jon Stewart: "You know America’s gone through a worm-hole; when Pat Buchanan is the voice of fairness and reason.. I’m sorry.."
PBS’ NEWS HOUR’s Jim Lehrer: "Top Representatives of Vice President Gore’s Campaign said today: The outcome in Florida was far from certain. Campaign manager, William Daley, and former Secretary of State Warren Christopher spoke in Tallahassee:"
William Daley: "As you know, the automatic recount required by Florida law is continuing. To date: that count has shown a considerable narrowing of the margin, between Vice President Gore and Governor Bush. When one considers the number of ballots yet to arrive from Americans overseas—and presumably, mostly men and women in the military—it seems very clear that the outcome here in Florida remains in doubt, as it will for several more days.
"In addition, in the past 24 hours three counties have granted requests to have ballots, uh, counted…hand-counted, at least on a sample basis. These request were made because of oddities in the computer vote totals. These results (are) frustrating; frustrating to all of us involved in both campaigns, and to the American people obviously, as well. But calls for a declaration of a victor before all the votes are actually tabulated, are inappropriate. Waiting is unpleasant for all of us: But suggesting that the outcome of a vote is known before all of the ballots are properly counted, is inappropriate. In addition we continue to explore the question of what can be done to remedy the unfairness of thousands of residents of Palm Beach County who believe they were voting for Al Gore; having those votes tabulated for Pat Buchanan, or not tabulated at all. Our legal team has concluded that the ballot in Palm Beach County was unlawful: it was complained about on election day; a complaint implicitly acknowledged by the Elections Supervisor who put out a flier on election day, warning about the problem.
"In the end, as frustrating as this wait may be, what we are seeing here is a democracy in action. A careful and lawful effort, to ensure that the will of the people is done. Uh, Other systems of government may work faster—curtailing voters’ rights may get a result that is faster—but no system of government is more just or more enduring than ours. I hope that our friends in the Bush campaign join us, in our efforts to get the fairest and most accurate vote-count here in Florida: Respect for Democratic principles, and for the fundamental precept of our Constitution—that the People should decide—requires no less. I think as we move forward it is implicit, for all of us, and all of those concerned that we carefully measure all of our words; recognizing the high stakes involved in these deliberations."
Warren Christopher: "We’re only three days away from, uh, the election itself. Uh, our Constitutional Founde…Fathers, wisely provided a period of time, uh: after the election; and before the Electors meet. We’re in a very early part of that period; and I don’t see any threat to, uh, our Constitution. Indeed, what we’re doing is a Constitutional process. There’s no constitutional crisis! We’re proceeding in accordance to the Constitution of laws, and we’ll continue to do so. Uh, I don’t see any, uh, threat—at the moment—to our standing, overseas; uh, we’ll always have this period of (inaudible) between the election and the installation of a new administration. I think we’re proceeding in a very direct way. If there was escalation of rhetoric on the other side [sentence printed earlier], in the last few hours; I’m not inclined to join it. I’m inclined to try to stay on the path of, uh, being affirmative about it; trying to carry out our duties here.."
Jim Lehrer: "Vice President Gore did not make any public statements today; but Governor Bush spoke to reporters at the Governor’s mansion in Austin, during a meeting with key advisors: For the record; that bandage you’ll see on his face is to cover a boil:"
Texas Governor, George W. Bush: "Each candidate, in each team, is gonn’a have to do what they think is best…in the best interest of the country. Um, and um, I think in the best interest o’ the country, it, it…it’s in our country’s best interest that, uh, we plan, in a responsible way…um, a possible administration. And there’s been two votes, and, um…uh, w-we’re pleased with the results o’ the two votes."
Reporter’s question: "Governor, since you seem so sure that you will win; have you given thought to your resigning early, as Governor of Texas to give your full attention to (inaudible)?"
George bush: "Wa’…I-I, I am…I am mindful that there’re still votes to be counted, Tom…and uh, we’re, um…each, it’s…I-I believe, as does Secretary Cheney, that the responsible course of action, is to prepare, an’; that’s what we’re doing here in Austin, Texas: Taking our time; we’re…we’re very low key, matter…preparing for a po…possible administration. I’m sure there’s gonn’a be some people disappointed, that their man didn’t get in; but there’s also gonn’a be a lot o’ people very happy. An…but our job will be to unite the country; an’ I’m confident that Bush/Cheney Administration will be able to do so, in a dignified way."
Jim Lehrer: "Claims of irregularities in that Florida vote, did continue today. Betty-Ann Bowser reports from the middle of the storm in Palm Beach County:"
Betty-Ann Bowser: "By early this morning, Palm Beach County Democrats had compiled more than five-thousand affidavits from voters: some complained their votes weren’t counted; some say they were unfairly turned away from the poles on Tuesday, by precinct workers; but overwhelmingly they complained that the Presidential ballot was confusing.. Bab Simon is an elementary school teacher who still isn’t sure if she voted for Vice President Al Gore; or Reform Party candidate Pat Buchanan.. And insurance executive, Gerald Posten, said he accidentally voted twice for President; which means his ballot was thrown out [he said, in this piece; it was confusing and too-much trouble to get a new ballot].. Palm Beach County, Democratic officials said they expect to have another two-thousand affidavits notarized by tomorrow, as protests over irregularities in Tuesday’s election grow. Last night…a Florida circuit court judge issued a temporary injunction. It prevents the county Election Board from releasing the ballots to the state, before a court hearing is held next week. In addition to 19,000 ballots being thrown out for being double-punched, there were another ten-thousand ballots disqualified because they show no vote for President; perhaps, because of inadequate punches. An alarming number of those disqualified ballots were in African-American voting precincts.. ‘4½% of the entire vote for President, in Palm Beach County (were disqualified or not counted; and, the predominantly African/American precincts showed the numbers as being 15%, and 16% as being disqualified)’. At least three lawsuits have been filed challenging the result of Tuesday’s election, and this ballot is one of the things they’re questioning.."
Again: At the 200th Year, Celebration of the White House:
Former US President, Jimmy Carter: "I think that all of us should remember that our system will prevail. That our nation is so great, so strong and its tradition is so imbedded in the consciousness of all leaders here, that we will survive this present uncertainty of the outcome of the election."
Former US President, George H. W. Bush: "Whatever happens this time, my pride and Barbara’s pride knows no bounds. Moreover, our democracy will go on, as President Carter said, and the new President will become part of the continuum of service that sets our nation, and this building apart."
President William J. Clinton: "We know how proud President and Mrs. Bush must be of their son. And rightly so. And we Americans should take great pride in the fact that this contest was fought to a close conclusion. It is not a symbol of the division of our nation, but the vitality of our debate. And it will be resolved in a way, consistent with the vitality of our enduring Constitution and laws."
George Mesa University’s, Roger Wilkins: "Well it’s a little terrifying when, this morning, you see Bob Dole, a very serious American, calling George W. Bush: the ‘President Elect’. That’s outrageous! Now things have been said on the Democratic side (like): ‘We will take this litigation to its course.’ Instead of having the ‘wisest’ men they can find, down there in Florida spinning the American public; they should: call those guys back, and say; ‘You guys, with whatever wisdom you have, working for us; (and) with the spirit we saw in the White House last night, we gott’a figure out how to prevent this nuclear war!’ You know, these guys may lose—one of them is going to lose the White House—one of ’em may have to give it up. People have lost their lives fighting for this country; so…these guys ought’a get big!"
Saturday, November 11th—
MSNBC’s Gregg Jarrett: "The thought that four days after an election night, we still wouldn’t know who is going to be sworn in as the next President in January; hopes of a quick resolution dim with every day that passes. The battle for the White House heating up; and this is the most important information of the day: James Baker will announce that the Bush campaign is seeking a Court Injunction, to stop four Florida counties from recounting ballots by hand."
A Volusia County, Canvassing Board news conference; Reporter’s question: "Is the delay (to recount ballots) this morning; did the potential Republican lawsuit have…"
Dave Byron: "No. No, the Canvassing Board is aware…they were told that, the Republicans apparently intend to seek an injunction in Federal Court in Orlando, to stop the manual recount process. Until the Canvassing Board is officially directed otherwise, they will proceed. So the delay here this morning has nothing to do with that.."
James Baker’s news conference: "Good morning again, ladies and gentleman. Uh, let me begin by repeating what I said yesterday: The vote in Florida has been counted, and the vote in Florida has been recounted. Governor George W. Bush was the winner of the vote, and he was also the winner of the recount. Based on these results, we urge the Gore campaign to accept the finality of the election; subject, of course, to the counting of the absentee…the overseas absentee ballots, in accordance with law. They obviously, have decided instead, to proceed with yet a third count of votes in a number of, predominantly Democratic, counties. This course of action is regrettable. Moreover, in recent days, supporters of our opponents have filed a number of lawsuits—at least eight, by (our) last count—challenging, in different ways, the results of the election.
"I said, yesterday, that we would vigorously oppose the Gore campaign’s efforts to keep recounting, until it likes the result. And therefore, this morning, we have asked that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida preserve the integrity, and the consistency, and the quality, and the finality of the most important civic action that Americans can take; their vote, in an election for President of the United States. We feel we have no other choice. The manual vote-count, sought by the Gore campaign, would not be more accurate than an automated count. Indeed, it would be less fair, and less accurate. Human error, individual subjectivity, and decisions to, quote: ‘determine the voter’s intent;’ close quote, would replace precision machines in tabulating millions of small marks, and fragile hole-punches. There would be countless-opportunities for the ballots to be subject to a whole host of risks: The potential for mischief, would exist, to a far greater degree than in the automated count, and recount that these very ballots have already been subjected to. It is precisely, ladies and gentlemen, for these reasons, that our Democracy over the years, has moved, increasingly; from hand-counting of votes, to machine counting. Machines are neither republicans; nor Democrats; and therefore; can be neither consciously, nor unconsciously bias. There are not even any procedures, or standards to govern this third, and selective vote count. A manual recount permits the electoral board, in each county in Florida, to determine the intent of the voters, without setting-forth any standards—at all—for deciding that intent. One electoral board may decide to count votes that are not fully punched; another may not. One electoral board may decide to that a stray mark indicated an intent to vote for a particular candidate; another may not. One electoral board may try to determine the intent of voters who marked multiple candidates on a ballot; and, another may not. If this new selective recounting process proceeds, the votes in some counties will be counted in as completely different, and standardless manner, from the votes in the remaining county(s). At this point; a changed result would not be the most accurate result, it would simply be the most recent result. Therefore, we ask that there be no further recounts, of already recounted ballots.
"We regret that we were compelled to take this action. At some point, however, Florida’s voters, and indeed all Americans are entitled to some finality in the election process. I keep remembering that day when I was with President Ford, following another hard-fought election that was decided by a razor-thin margin. Many in the room advised President Ford: to challenge the result, with just one recount. President Ford said no. He spoke about the country’s interest. Now, twenty-four years later, our opponents have lost the vote; they’ve even lost a recount of that vote, and sadly they’ve chosen another course; and so, the country has been pushed in a very different direction.
"As I cautioned yesterday; there is no reasonable end to this process, if it slips away. First, in Florida, but potentially; in other states as well. But, there still (is) a fair way to end all this: We urge our opponents to join us; join with us in accepting the recounted votes of the people of Florida; subject, of course, to the result of a count of the overseas ballots, which are greater than the present tabulation of the recounted vote: If they will do this, we will promptly dismiss this action."
Reporters: (inaudible)
James Baker: "Just a minute…just wait a minute.. Y’ah.."
Reporter: "Was there a concern, uh—in the Bush camp that, um—hand-counting in a predominantly Democrati…they voted predominantly Democratic, in the election; could it put that margin at risk?"
James Baker: "Well…the concerns are those, I’ve just alluded to in my statement; There is much greater chance for human error. The ballot, uh, tha…the, the…uh, the relevant statutes give no standards of objectives to the canvassing boards, as ta’ how they’re ta’ be guided: In…in determining the voter intent; it can be a very very subjective process. An…an’ indeed, uh, as I think I’ve pointed out in the statement; the potential, uh, for mischief in a situation that is not an ordinary vote-counting situation; when votes are norma…cast in an ordinary Presidential election, uh, the people receiving those votes have no, uh, idea, of course, that they are…that their actions could effect the result: this is an extraordinarily unique situation. Now let me…le’ me make this very clear to everyone here: We are not su…we are not alleging, that there would be, any mischief—and hopefully, if this should go forward, wa…there will be none—and we will have our people there. But…but the potential…but the potential, is there: And the big point here—that I hope everyone will keep in mind—is that the nation has left manual-counting in favor of machine-counting; because it is more fair, it is more objective, and it is less subject to human error, and potential mischief.
Reporter’s question: (inaudible)
James Baker: "There…we…we are not doing that. We are preserving, in fact, the right to a…to a Constitutional process that has been traditionally followed in this country; that would be in effect, in fact, uh, of this action; and we are, an’…an’ what we are saying is: there’s been a vote; there has been a recount; and a third recount—which would be a manual recount—would be subject to all of the problems that I’ve outlined in my statement. Yes:"
Reporters question: "All that, may be true; but a Republican official said this morning (inaudible) challenge is, quote, ‘on shaky ground’, unquote; because under Florida law Democratic party officials have 72 hours to act for a hand recount, and the law certainly is very clear.."
James Baker: "Well, you.."
Reporter continues: "What do you say to those, who say that you’re not…that you are not willing to go toward a lawful recount; and that you’re afraid of what the outcome will be?"
James Baker: "Well that’s…we…we been…We’ve gone for a lawful re-…recount: an’ we, uh…an’ we’re not afraid of…of the outcome; and we’re quite willing to say, here today—as we have, over the course of the last several days—that…we’re willing to say, that if we…if we should lose, the, uh, count of the overseas absentee ballots: it’s over! We lose."
Reporter: "If they continue these legal pursuits, whether it’s an individual lawsuit questioning whether someone was able to rightfully vote, or any other legal remedies that they may consider to pursue: Is it your suggestion, sir; that in some way, this is unpatriotic or unstatesmanlike on behalf of them?"
James Baker: "No…no; no, I haven’t…I haven’t…I, I haven’t said that; I’ve just pointed out ta’…to you, the fact that, uh, th…their supporters have…have filed eight lawsuits challenging the…the results. And, uh, and so, w-we were not the first to file a lawsuit. Their supporters, filed eight lawsuits challenging the result…an’, I have also said—I hope very clearly—that if they would simply say: ‘Yes, we will respect the count, the results of the count of the overseas absentee ballots, like you’ve said you will, uh, we’ll wait those six days,’ Th-they’ll wait those six days—whatever that shows—that will determine the winner in Florida. This la’…this, uh, action, we’ve filed would be dismissed. Yes sir:"
Reporter’s question: (inaudible)
James Baker: "Uh, I’m not aware of any…of any discussions between, um, high-level officials of the Gore campaign, and Canvassing Board members. No, I’m not; so, uh: that’s the way, I would answer your question..
"There are copies here; of the action we’re filing, and of my statement. Thank you-all, very much."
CNN’s Miles O’Brien: "Of course there is the court of public opinion to consider: CNN’s Patty Davis in Washington; she is with the Gore camp. And Patty we saw the James Baker news conference, just about an hour ago now live on CNN, as he announced that lawsuit in Federal Court to try and stop the hand-counting. I’m curious if we will be expecting to see any representatives of the Gore campaign on-camera today?"
Patty Davis: "That’s a good question. They have said that they will either have a paper statement, or they may go on camera at some point today; we’re waiting for final word of that. But there was swift reaction from the Gore campaign; even as James Baker was giving his press conference, Doug Hattaway was on the phone with us—the national spokesman for the Gore campaign—saying that his, quote: ‘Hand-counts are provided for under Florida law; and local Florida election officials decided to do the hand-count’. Now, onscreen, in an earlier quote we got from Mr. Hattaway: ‘These recounts are authorized by local officials. They (the Bush campaign) are going to Federal Court, to stop local officials from counting their own citizen’s vote. We support the decision to have a full, fair, and accurate count’. So a swift reaction from the Gore campaign in response, however, to the James Baker ‘deal’, that he was offering; (which was) basically: ‘All right, you go ahead and agree with us, that you’ll accept the Friday absentee ballot count as the final count; you’ll concede, you’ll accept that at that point if you are the loser’. The reaction from the Gore campaign at this point is; no response: ‘We will be working on one, and we’ll get back to ya’ on that’. Miles:"
Miles O’Brien: "Of course this Federal Court Injunction on the part of the Bush campaign, not the only legal skirmish underway. Some of the Gore supporters have filed suit, or threatening to file suit at least, indicating they thought they were…they felt cheated out of their ability to vote for their candidate because of that confusion, over the ballots down there in Palm Beach County. Has the Gore campaign taken any sort of an official opinion on that?; (or) are they trying to lay low on that one?"
Patty Davis: "Well, William Daley the other day in a press-conference (said) in Tallahassee, that they are supportive of the law suits that are being filed in Palm Beach County. Uh, they say that, indeed, that the, uh…that the ballots were unfair. It’s their opinion, of their legal experts that, uh…that these ballots were unlawful. They feel strongly about that, they’re saying. So they’re supportive of that. They also are saying: In Broward County there were some 6700 ballots there, that weren’t clearly punched for one candidate or another; there was an impression on one of those, uh, the dot—the candidate line-dots there—but the machine perhaps didn’t pick that up. So they’re saying that: ‘What we need now is a hand-count: Machines can’t pick everything up; We need to figure out exactly what voters intended here; And it’s not fair to the American people if we don’t figure out exactly what they intend(ed) (so as to) choose their President. Miles:.."
CNN’s Gene Randell: "..The George W. Bush Presidential campaign has asked a federal judge in Florida, to put a stop to hand-counts of ballots in the state. That hand-count is underway in Volusia County, and is also planned in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade Counties. The Bush camp says: ‘After the Texas Governor won the first vote, and the Florida machine-recount; hand-counts carry too high a risk of errors, or mischief’. The Al Gore campaign insists the hand-count should go forward, saying, quote: ‘There is absolutely no reason why peoples’ votes should not be counted by human beings,’ unquote. For more on what the two campaigns are saying today; we have Tony Clark in Austin, Texas, and Patty Davis in Washington. First to you, Tony:"
CNN’s Tony Clark: "Gene, the Bush campaign held some late-night discussions; (there was a) conference call between the Governor, Jim Baker in Florida, and some of the Republican attorneys, before deciding on how to proceed in this; because, as (Mr. Baker) has said, they think this is unnecessary that: ‘There has been two counts already, and so a third count is not appropriate in this matter’. But one other concern, that was not mentioned, a concern that lawyers have expressed, is that: traditionally when there is a hand-count, more votes end up being counted than before. And, what usually happens, is the person who won that county in which there was a hand-count; they tend to get proportionally the larger number of those new (hand-counted) votes. And so what could well happen, the fear is, that Al Gore could pick up a substantial number of votes in those four counties; enough so that he would lead in, uh, Florida; take the lead from Governor Bush; and if that happens, the Bush campaign is then put in a position of: Should they ask for hand-counts in counties where the Governor did well? Perhaps say in the Florida Panhandle; and how does that make them look, since they have argued against the Gore campaign calling for hand-counts. And so it is a very tricky situation, as it now heads to the courts."
Gene Randell: "And Patty Davis is in Washington this weekend; Vice President Al Gore is there as well. Patty, what are they saying on that side of the isle?"
Patty Davis: "That’s right. We are hearing that, uh, William Daley will be holding his own little press briefing, to get the word out from the Gore campaign in about twenty-five minutes. He and Warren Christopher have been at the residence, the Vice President’s residence here in Washington this morning, going over this situation with the Vice President and briefing him. Earlier today a spokesman for the Gore campaign said that: ‘What’s really going on here is that the Bush campaign is trying to preempt the local officials in Florida; they’re going to court, Federal Court; trying to take away our local-official’s-right to count their own citizen’s vote’. And we also heard from a senior Gore official, who said, quote: ‘It is now clear that George w. Bush wants to use every legal means available, including lawyers and court injunctions, to block the speedy and accurate count of (the) Florida vote!’ The official saying that: ‘We are confident Americans will reject Mr. Bush’s arrogant stance, and (they) will demand a full, fair and accurate counting of Florida votes.’ The official adding that Al Gore wants that. The official, also told CNN: ‘It’s kind of ironic;’ because they are asserting that: In Florida’s Seminole county, yesterday, that Republicans supported and in-fact, did a hand-count in that county; overseen by Republican Congressmen. Now they’re coming out today, saying; they don’t want a hand-count! So, uh, there’s a little back and forth going on here between the Gore campaign and the Bush campaign. Gene:"
Leon County Commissioner, Robert Rackleff: "This is not something that is unusual, or speculative. It’s a problem that has physical evidence: It provides certainty that the person who voted, voted correctly; and it will allow those votes to be counted. Right now they’re not; and that’s why we have an inaccurate-count for President. In fact, the problem with punch-cards was so great, that the Chief Elections Officer of Massachusetts prohibited their use in 1998. In (those) counties that used optical scanning systems: out of 1000 votes cast, only 2 on-average did not record a vote for President. In counties with punch-card ballots: it shows that that number is 32. Out of 1000 votes, there were 32 votes that went unrecorded for President. Now that’s a very strong and compelling piece of evidence that there is a problem! And that that problem is the hanging-chad problem that we’ve identified. In these counties we need to physically examine those ballots, that we identify as not having voted for President, and determine which ones have that problem: Correct the problem; Run them through the machine again, to get an accurate count for President.. I’m asking for an examination of those ballots, for which there is no Presidential-vote recorded. Physical examination, using the same, established procedures as we have in the case of Michigan and Kentucky to establish an accurate account. Now what’s at stake here, is not just a person’s right to vote; but a person’s right to have that vote counted accurately. We don’t know what the outcome of that will be. What we do know, is if we don’t do this, than the selection will not be accurate; and the results will be tragic in any event." (Followed by a question and answer period.)
President Clinton: "We have a Constitution; We have a rule of Law; We voted; And now the system is trying to figure out exactly what we said.. (laughter coming from the crowd). Eventually.. (still applause and laughter) ..eventually, they will. The system will do that according to the Constitution and laws, and America will be just fine."
MSNBC’s Anchor, John Seigenthaler: "..the tape that we’re getting ready to see from Austin, Texas, of George W. Bush and his running-mate, Dick Cheney. They’ve been actually on his ranch in Crawford, Texas. That’s where they’ve been meeting today; and that’s Andy Card on the right (of the two). In just a moment we’re going to hear the Governor speak—he’s got a few comments to make today—but you should know that while this tape was being made; the Bush campaign, led by James Baker, is seeking an injunction to stop that manual recount that is already underway in Palm Beach County; as we’d heard from Palm Beach County officials just a moment ago. So, uh, they’re headed to the microphone; they continue their discussion about a Transition; if George W. Bush does become the President of the United States. Let’s listen to what they have to say:"
George Bush: "(missed first)…pleased to welcome the Cheneys, and Andy Card here; and, um, we’re just gonn’a continue our discussions about, um, about the future. And, uh, as I said yesterday, I think it’s responsible that, uh, Dick and I, and others contemplate a potential administration. And so, uh, they’ve come, and we’re gonn’a have to spend the day here today; an’, First Lady Bush ’ll be arriving here soon. It’s nice to be out here in the country. Last night, was such a wonderful feeling when we arrived into Crawford, about nine-fifty at night, an’ -- Hey, Hey, Hey…hey, please…ta’…it’s not your turn! (speaking to his dog, Spot) -- Sorry, the dogs wanted to have a few comments. What she says was: ‘Let’s finish the recount’. Anyway, um, uh, arriv.. -- Ex’, Spotty! Spotty! -- Gordon! Somebody needs ta’ take care o’ the daw’g. -- Thank you Gordon! -- Any…-- Jus’ go ahead and throw the ball! -- Anyway, um, we arrived at Crawford. I had ta’ ride to Crawford with Andy, an’…about seventy of the townspeople were out there—just so sweet an’ nice an’ kind—and, uh, just made me feel great to be here. Um, they were jus’…I don’ know if they still got the decorations on gate, or on the trees; but some o’ the town people decorated the highway in…it’s, it’s-it’s…it’s a wonderful feeling to be amongst friends. You got somethin’, ta’ say?"
Dick Cheney: "Yeah…we, uh; (inaudible) and I came down to Austin, uh, planning to spend one night in a hotel, and then goin’ on up to Washington Wednesday. And we’ve sort of moved in now to the, uh, the hotel there in Austin for the duration. It’s nice to get up here for the…for the weekend. Kind, of the Governor and Laura to invite us to come spend, uh, some time here on the ranch. And, uh, we’re, uh, se…we’re not on a position, clearly, to be able to begin the Transition, at this point, until the situation in Florida’s resolved; but we can do some planning; we didn’t have much time during the campaign to do a lot of Transition planning; although some work was done by, uh, Clay Johnson.."
George Bush: "Right."
Dick Cheney: "And, uh, this is really the first opportunity, this week, we’ve had, to sit down and spend much time thinking about, um, putting an administration together. So, we are doing some of that preliminary planning, uh, this week, an’ with Andy, an’, Governor and myself."
Reporter’s question: "Governor, why did you decide to go forward and seek the injunction in Florida?"
George Bush: "I…I think you ought’a call Jim Baker; let him…he made the explanation today, an’, it’s a, I thought it was a very sound and reasoned explanation. And, uh, if you got any further comment…ah, questions about that, jus’ call him; call his office. He’ll, he’ll be the person in charge of…of explaining our position, uh, as to why we don’t think there needs ta’ be three elections."
Reporter: "On another front, you clearly are making some move towards Transition, which you hope will happen. What have you told your State staff about planning for succession (—inaudible); did you tell them to keep going forward?"
George Bush: "Yeah, I have…I mean: Everybody’s keepin’ their powder dry. It’s, it’s…it’s, just an interesting period Ken; we’re…we’re all in limbo. And, uh…uh, that there are some responsible, um…’keep using the word ‘responsible’, ’cause I think the people of America understand that there’s a very good chance that…that Dick and I will be the President and Vice President; and we need ta’ be—w-when that happens, uh—we need ta’ be prepared. Th-this is a awesome responsibility; and, uh, and so we’re planning; I’ve told the State staff ta’—ya’ know—be steady; and, uh.."
Reporter: "Are they doing the preparations as if you might be there, also? Do you have duel-track.."
George Bush: "Well, we have been th…as you know, it’s…it’s one o’ the stories, you wrote, earlier this year: Congratulations, for ferreting this out…ah’ hope it keeps ya’ in good standing with your newspaper, there: But it’s, uh, nothing’s changed, since you wrote your story."
Reporter: "Surely! Something has changed here!"
George Bush: "Now.. Well..? We’ve had an election, ain’t we!: We’ve had an election, an’ two cou…we-we’ve had, one count, then we had another count, and, uh, fortunately we won both counts, so far. But, uh.."
Reporter: "How stressful has this been for you..?"
George Bush: "I feel…I feel fine! I really do, I’m.."
Reporter: "You, sleeping Okay?"
George Bush: "Very soundly…thank you. And, uh…I’m, uh—ya’ know—I’m…I know we’ve got the best, uh, people on the ground in Florida: James A. Baker, an’ people lookin’ after our interests; and…uh, I feel great! It’s nice ta’ be in the same bed two nights in a row!"
Reporter: "I know you mentioned, the questions should be referred to Mr. Baker, but.."
Bush: "That’s right..!"
Reporter: "Do you feel that, um, I mean, in.."
Bush: "I feel you ought’a speak ta’ Mr. Baker! We’ve made…he made a very strong statement this morning. It explains the rational, uh, for our decision; and, um…if you’ve got any further questions; I’d really wish you’d refer to him..! Yeah, Susan:"
Reporter: "Regarding this injunction: is this a way of saying; ‘enough is enough’?"
Bush: "Well, I think…our-our attitude is…is that, um; there are still absentee ballots to be counted; and, this election will be determined after those absentee ballots had been counted. We’ve counted once, and we recounted, in Florida, or that: everybody recounted; and, uh, we fully recognized there are some ballots outstanding from overseas; an’, uh…uh, people ought ta’ be included in the process. And, uh, it seems like, ta’ us, that once those ballots are counted; it’ll be…we’ll be able to determine who…who the President will be."
Reporter: "Do you anticipate any action (inaudible) in Wisconsin or Iowa?"
Bush: "(inaudible) the new state; looks like, we may have won, which is New Mexico. We’re very pleased that; even though the election results were called by people on election night; they’ve counted, and waited for all the ballots to come in; an’ it looks like we may have a narrow lead in New Mexico. Um, no there…all options are open, o’ course; but, w-w-what’ll be good for the country is ta’ have this election over with...so that the new administration can do the peoples’ business; and…uh.."
Reporter: "So what do you say to those who criticize you today, for (inaudible) by being the first who’s filed?"
Bush: "Well there’s eight lawsuits filed already, prior ta’ us. And, uh…as-as Jim Baker has said: if the, uh, if-if…if, ya’ know, we’d be willing to withdraw that lawsuit, depending upon Vice President Gore’s campaign’s decisions. And we’ve had one election; then we recounted the election; an’, fortunately, we came out on top both times; and, uh, it’s uh…ya’-know…and so the Secretary made a very strong statement; and I would refer all questions about that statement to him and his office."
Reporter(s): "One question.." "Would you consi.."
Bush: "Spotty -- Please!"
Reporter: "Would you consider appointing Democrats to your Cabinet?"
Bush: "Uh, ya’ know, I-I think it’s very important for m…us to get this election behind us; and uh, I would hope someday that I would be answering that question, uh, after this election is final."
Reporter: "(inaudible)"
Bush: "My infection? Well, I’m sure glad ya’ asked. It’s (--laughter): Yea’…What infection..? Oh, that one: Uh, I was hopin’ nobody would notice this bandaid here…it’s, uh, well it’s good ta’ see; is- isn’t…it’s, uh, fine! It’s, uh…uh, it got per’ty severely infected; and I had a doc’ look at it; and I’m takin’ antibiotics, an’ putting on hot compresses, an’ it’s beginning ta’, beginning to retreat: thankfully."
Reporter: "Governor, you’re supposed to seek a mandate from the people, not a bandaid..!"
Bush: Very good, Herman—hea, ha hea ha, hea: Thank you-all for comin’, I-I-I…Pathyew(?): the last time you were here, was a lit…did ya’ see it? Yeah?; where’d ya’ see it?: Fabulous! Did ya’all see…did ya’ record the stag?"
Reporter: "Ya, we.."
Bush: "Mag…magnificent animal…yeah—oops..? Sorry that Spot-the-dog felt like she had ta’ add something; but, she’s…ya’ know; I think she’s as anxious as most Americans ta’ find out…ha hea, ha.. {Bush now throws a ball for his dog..} Thank you-all for comin’ out..! We’d like ta’ feed ya, but we don’t.." {end of video-recording}
MSNBC’s John Seigenthaler: "And, the Governor’s dog is getting a little national attention down in Crawford, Texas as he makes his statements to the news media about this very, very close election. Of course, you heard several times, the Governor say: ‘We’ve had one count; we’ve had another count; we still have the absentee-ballots; but when the absentee-ballots are in;’ he believes: he will be the next President of the United States. And he believes this should be over, and that’s why the Bush campaign is seeking an injunction today, to stop another count, ‘a third count;’ what they call ‘a manual count’ of the votes in several counties in the state of Florida."
CNN’s John King: "Well Gene, we’re still waiting for the official Gore campaign response. Former Commerce Secretary, Bill Daley; (and) Former Secretary of State, Warren Christopher meeting at the Naval Observatory; that’s the Vice President’s official residence here in Washington DC. We understand they are waiting to come out in public, because they’re conducting a variety of research operations in Florida and in Nashville. One thing you will hear from them today, that we are already hearing in advance to that event: ‘Hypocrisy!’ You just heard Jim Baker saying that, ‘A manual-recount is not reliable;’ that, ‘a machine-count is more reliable’: Then, ‘Why,’ the Gore campaign, will ask today, ‘did Governor Bush, in September, 1997, sign into Texas state law that reads as follows: "A Manual Recount shall be conducted in preference to an Electronic Recount".’ So the Gore campaign, making the case that Governor Bush opposes the manual-recount in Florida because he’s worried! Because, the Gore campaign will say, they believe an honest and accurate recount of the Florida vote will show the Vice President actually won the State; and if he does, of course, he will win the White House. Now one quick other point. Bush campaign officials concede that if this attempt for an injunction fails, and if the hand-recount requested by the Democrats go forward, in these four counties; that the Bush Campaign then most likely would request recounts in some other counties. But they cannot request them everywhere, because the deadline was last night: In any county already certified by the Florida Secretary of State, the deadline for requesting a hand-count, was last night. 53 of the State’s 67 counties have been certified so there are only 14 counties left in-play, if this drama goes on. The question will be: If this injunction attempt [of the four counties] in Federal Court fails, will the Bush campaign counter in any of the remaining ten?"
Warren Christopher: "Good afternoon. Throughout this process, we’ve proceeded on a single fundamental principle: We want the votes, all the votes cast to be accurately and fairly counted. The Will of The People, expressed in accordance with our Constitution should decide who our next President will be. Today the Bush campaign suddenly filed a motion in Federal Court to stop the hand-counting of ballots, in counties in Florida: where serious problems with ballots have been identified. Officials in these three counties had decided that problems where sufficiently serious, to warrant the hand-count authorized under Florida law.
"Let us understand why Florida law calls for a hand-count in situations like this: When doubts have arisen, the Hand Count is seen as the best way to ascertain the true views of the voters. This is common procedure, around the nation. Machines can sometimes misread, or fail to detect the way ballots are punched; particularly if there is a design flaw in the ballots themselves. In fact, the state of Texas recently enacted a law—signed by Governor Bush—providing for a hand-count: ‘as the best way to reach an accurate result in certain disputed situations’. If Governor Bush truly believes that he has won the election in Florida, he should not have any reason to doubt, or to fear, uh, to have the machine-count checked by a hand-count! This procedure is authorized under Florida law, under Texas law, and under the law of many other jurisdictions. The hand-count, uh, in these three counties—the four(th) county, that we’ve asked for as well—can be completed expeditiously; and it should be. Until today, uh, the Bush campaign has argued that every minute counts. We have consistently maintained however, that—as we continue to do today—that: every vote must count! [papers blow in the breeze] ..A little windy here.. We call upon the Bush campaign to withdraw the litigation they have filed today, and to allow a full and accurate count to be made of all the votes in the state of Florida. Thank you, very much."
Reporter: "Bill, (inaudible) ..the Democratic members of Congress, party-chairmen around the country have begun expressing concerns about any sort’a protracted, uh, bitter process here that would damage the party, and potentially the country as well: could you respond to their concerns?"
Bill Daley: "Well I think all Americans have a…a desire to see this, uh, finished expeditiously. One of the reasons why, uh, Secretary, uh, Christopher just gave his statement regarding this litigation is, that, uh, may have the opportunity to slow this (process) down. The hand-count’s proceeding; we want it done expeditiously; we want this brought to conclusion, as all Americans do. Uh, and we…I’ve talked with a number of Democratic leaders; uh, they have no more of the normal concern that everyone else has. Uh, and so I think; some of the, uh, um…uh, comments made in the media today; or expectation, that there’s great concern are not unfounded, in my conversations with a number of Democratic leaders around the nation."
Reporter: "Why should we believe that this hand-count is anything more than a fishing expedition? Do you have evidence that there was something to find there; or is there, it-som…it’s heavily Democratic jurisdictions where you expect to get votes?"
Warren Christopher: "The only four counties in which hand-counts were requested, were counties where there was real anomalies, that showed up—real irregularities. The citizens of those counties felt that, uh, the…uh, machine-count did not accurately reflect their views. We didn’t go into every county in Florida; uh, only four counties, was there a hand-count asked for, and each one of them there was a serious anomaly."
Bill Daley: "Let me remind you: There is a, election committee in each one of those counties who makes a determination; number-one is they move through a sample of precincts, whether there’s enough evidence, to indicate anomalies, to go to the next step to full-county sample…full-county count.."
Reporter: "If for some reason you don’t get a full manual recount; will you be willing to accept the tally that comes out on Friday, with all the absentee ballots and everything coming in?"
Warren Christopher: "Well there’re a number of different processes under way. Uh, as you know, there…there will be the absentee ballots from overseas coming in. They’re continuing to count in some of the counties and, uh, there will be these counts coming forward. Now there’ll be a hearing by the judge on…on Monday; and, uh, we fully expect that, uh, the request o-of the Bush administration…or, th-the Governor Bush: we fully expect that to be, uh, not…not accepted by the Court; uh, but that has to be determined, uh, by next Monday. We have real confidence in our position. Our litigators in Florida do not believe that there’s an adequate reason to reject the hand-count that was authorized by the election commissioners in the three counties."
Reporter: "But if it happens, how far are you willing to go, legally?"
Warren Christopher: "Well, we-we’ve, uh, been considering various other options: no decision’s been reached on that. We’re here today, to say that we’re still interested as we always have been, in a hand-count; we haven’t taken any other —..in a full count, and a fair count..— We haven’t taken any other decisions, at this point."
Reporter: "If and when the Florida count is done, will you accept that as the end, and a win; one way or the other?"
Warren Christopher: "As I said, we have various options under consideration. We haven’t made a decision with respect to any of those. We’re proceeding in these three areas at the present time, and we’ll reach a decision on the others as time moves on."
Reporter: "What’s a reasonable amount of time for the country to go without having a conclusive election here?"
Warren Christopher: "Well we’re only three, or four days away from the election now. We’re proceeding rapidly, we think this hand-count can be done expeditiously. Uh, I think that, you know, the Framers wisely decided to provide (a time-lapse) between the decisions of, of…of the voters, and the time when the new administration would take over. We’ve used only a very early part of that decision. Up til now—I would say—the importance of getting it right outweighs the importance of rushing to judgment. Now, when that balance will tip?; I think none of us are able to say, at the present time; but we’re certainly at a very early stage in the process, and we certainly have not gone too far at the present time!"
Reporter: "You spent the afternoon with the Vice President; can you give us any sense of what his mood is, what his thinking is, what his priorities are at this point."
Warren Christopher: "Well we spent the time, both with, uh, the Vice President and with Senator Lieberman who joined us. Senator Lieberman walked over because this is still within the Sabbath day. Uh, we discussed at some length this rather surprising action taken by, uh, the, uh, Governor Bush’s group under Jim Baker’s direction in Florida. Uh, we had a good deal of discussion about getting lawyers to represent us in those proceedings; so we would be able to make our positions well known. Uh, we discussed other aspects of the ongoing process. So what we really did today was, Secretary Daley and I brought the Vice President—and then Senator Lieberman, when he could join us—up to date on all that’s going on in Florida. As you know, we’ve got a number of different things going on in Florida at the present time, and we haven’t been face to face with them for about a week, and we wanted to get back in-touch."
Reporter: "Is the Democratic Party actively helping individuals who’ve filed suit in Florida Courts?"
Bill Daley: "In…actively helping people file suits in Florida?: Not to my knowledge! Not to my knowledge…my understanding is that five suits have been filed in Florida. But I have no knowledge of…of who the people were, or anything. I-I think they were just citizens…from what I’ve read in the paper, just citizens of Florida. I haven’t heard that.. The local Democratic parties in Florida?: I-I can’t answer, unequivocally, that, uh: no one, who’s a Democrat, has talked to someone who may have filed a suit. I don’t know the answer to that…but we haven’t!"
Reporter: "If the absentee ballots come back in on Friday, and it clearly shows that Governor Bush has won Florida; uh, will the Vice President concede the state and the election?"
Warren Christopher: "We’ve had a number of different forms of that question; haven’t we? And I’ll answer it in the same way, by saying: you know we’re proceeding down these tracks; we’ve considered other options; no decision’s been made on them, and we’ll certainly let you know when they have been!"
Reporter: "So the answer is: You will not concede Florida if it clearly shows the absentee ballots show that Governor Bush carried the state of Florida?"
Warren Christopher: "That…that decision has not been made at the present time. As we’ve mentioned before; there are other options that we have before us, and we’re gonn’a hold onto those options for the present time."
Bill Daley: "..And we strongly believe at the end of this process, uh, Al Gore will be the…the winner of the Florida vote."
Reporter: "Mr. Daley, can you briefly address the subject matter that Mr. Baker brought up this morning; that the manual-count is less accurative: less accurative; less fair; and does have to weigh the intent of the voters; and therefore, it can be manipulated. Can you talk about that?"
Bill Daley: "U-under Florida law, this is allowed! And it is done, uh…uh, I assume more often than…than in this occasion! Uh; and the Electors, in an open…commission members of these, in an open process with both parties being represented at the same time are there if there is a dispute; it’d have to be worked out between the two parties at the table. I-I don’t think one should assume that—in all occasions—a machine, uh, is more guaranteed to give you the right result than…than humans. I don’t…I don’t think that’s the occasion."
Reporter: "What about the interpretation of the ballot: did this person…the person intend to mark this mark, or the other mark?"
Bill Daley: "I think they look! They base that upon evidence that’s there. They don’t just make that up…it’s the judgment that they make.."
Warren Christopher: "Thank you…thank you."
CNN’s Capital Gang’s, Mark Shields: "Bob Novak, which side has the advantage in this truly historic showdown?"
Capital Gang’s; Chicago Sun Times’, Robert Novak: "The Gore side has the advantage; and that’s why you’re seeing some long Republican faces, Mark. The, uh…very quickly, after the period where nobody would be declared the winner on Tuesday night, they found that, in Broward County, Florida there were several ballots that had not been punched all the way through. And that was the opening; a heavily Democratic county. If they could get a, not only a recount, but a hand-recount they could have the inspector say: ‘Boy, there’s…it looks like there might be an indentation there, or maybe somebody made a circle;’ they would detect the wishes of the voters. Now you say: How can the Republican, uh, pole-watcher permit that to happen? Well we vote no, but the three person canvassing committee would say, yes; and that’s why they went to court today; I think very reluctantly, but what other option do they have? Uh, Mark; you and I interviewed, um, the Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Jim Nicholson, and I asked him: ‘Do you think they’re stealing the, uh…they’re trying to steal the election?’ He virtually gave an answer, ‘Yes;’ and that is the feeling by the Republican Party right now!"
Mark Shields: "Al Hunt, in New York: The feeling of the Republican Party: nervousness..?"
Capital Gang’s, Wall Street Journal’s, Al Hunt: "Mark, there is no crisis! There are no…no rioting in the streets, there’s no cities—paralyzed cities—that are threatened by missiles; I mean, this is, uh, a phony cry! We’re just simply trying to find out which candidate got the most votes in the state of Florida! It was decided by less than 1/100th-of-1% of the vote. And you know hand-counts are commonplace: I believe they do it in Texas. They certainly did it in New Mexico. And that’s all we’re trying to find out right now! And I think to try to say that somebody is stealing the election; uh, is…is phony! I think that is a wide-spread perception in the G.O.P.; just as in the Democratic Party there’s a wide-spread perception that they’re being cheated out of this victory! That perception is unfortunate. I don’t think it’s the realty; at least as of now."
CNN’s Capital Gang’s Margaret Rudd: "I agree with you on one thing. The campaign people should not be out there. The campaign is over. This is for someone else to, uh, you know: The dullest man in the world, Warren Christopher; and James Baker—not quite as dull—but two Secretaries of State. Whenever, Karl Rove, or Karen Hughes, or Bill Daley’s out there, it seems like the election is still going on. What’s still going on: is the count; to see where the election stands. And what Bill Daley was saying was: ‘What we know now, is that there were enough anomalies in the voting; and people were thwarted enough by a ballot that was, uh, inadvertently, innocently difficult to follow; that we need to look at it and see where we stand in an election this close’. Gore didn’t insist on that first count. That’s not like a count that the Gore people are insisting on. That’s an automatic recount. And what they found, were enough anomalies that they are going to take a sample by hand; which as you point out Governor Bush thinks is a good idea."
Robert Novak: "Margaret, with all do respect; that just isn’t the way it was being done. My sources—I do have some Democratic sources—told me, long before the count was completed, before…it was virtually before it was started, the mechanical count, exactly what was going to happen. That they were going to depend on—not so much the Palm Beach County—but the Broward County, uh, ballots which were blank. And they were going to interpret them because there was an indentation as having voted. This, you see, it isn’t just a simple count. And the reason the Democrats are now saying; ‘Wa’ll, it’s-it’s, you know, let’s just have a fair count;’ they know they’ve got a rigged deck, particularly when the, uh, deadline has past on hand-counts in Republican counties."
Margaret Rudd: "You can’t rig the count!; And if they wanted a count.."
Bob Novak: "..Yes, you can rig it…you really can!"
Margaret Rudd: "..if they wanted a count in their favor, those nineteen-thousand ballots that have been uncertified because they were punched twice, are the ones that would go to Gore disproportionately; because those were Buchanan/Gore ballots, and those were just thrown out!"
Al Hunt: "Mark, could I weigh in a little bit..? I mean…when Kato Burn—my dear friend—goes through all this, you know, this-this stacked political deck; I mean, Kate: the Secretary of State, in Florida—the ultimate person in charge of this—is a Bush-crony who campaigned for Jeb Bush; a crony who campaigned for George Bush in New Hampshire—I mean—the Bush people come out and say: ‘Palm Beach (which is the source for 3400 Buchanan votes) is a Buchanan Stronghold!’: Pat, and Bay Buchanan, to their great credit, say, ‘that is nonsense!’ Uh, Jim Baker is trying to prove how tough he is because he fell out of favor with the Bush’s. I mean there is certainly…I mean: don’t try to say one side is somehow, uh, behaving better than the other, because they aren’t."
‘Kato’ Burn: "I-I don’t…I don’t see how anyone can justify a hand-count in four overwhelmingly Democratic counties; and not throw out the state—which of course would tie us up, for how long—on this weak: a hundred and twenty-thousand ballots were invalidated in Cook County; it happens all the time. We don’…right, we don’t promise, okay, perfect elections. We do the best we can."
Mark Shields: "We do…we do promise that peoples’ (votes) will be counted! That’s all…that’s a basic, fundamental responsibility of Democracy. It is…it is as old—Bob, you know and I do—if you go in; those machines are imperfect. If you’re talkin’ about…if you’re talkin’ about a hand-count: all you have to do is bring in—I don’t care if it’s federal marshals—just to have that thing done fairly. We’re gonn’a have the press available. Let’s just be.."
Bob Novak: "Why not do it the whole state..?"
Mark Shields: "..Make it the whole state!"
Bob Novak: "But it isn’t being done..!"
Mark Shields: "..that is perfectly fine to do the whole state! But let’s be…Al hunt made the key point: ‘What is this rush to judgment that Jim Baker has to prove how motcho he is’."
Bob Novak: "Awww…"
Mark Shields: "Bob, let me just say—I listened very patiently—let me just say one thing! And that is: we have ten weeks until the Inaugural; we have five and a half weeks til the Electoral College; we have a President who Constitutionally is there, who’s healthy, who’s smart as a whip, he likes the job! There is no crisis..!"
Al Hunt: "Bob, let me just explain something to ya’. There’s an equal number of Americans right now who worry that they’re being cheated on the other side. And to suggest that one side is culpable here, and not the other…there is no difference between what Bill Daley said and what Jim Baker said. Both have declared an end to this election before the process is finished. And Karl Rove is going out, lying about various things—and somehow, that’s acceptable! I’m sorry: you cannot say there’s a difference in behavior here."
Mark Shields: "And I have to say—talk about battle mode—when you say three days…two days earlier here—and nine different communications I get from Bush people, and Republican people—saying: they’re against Al Gore going to court; and that he ought to be condemned for it: Then, they go to court themselves! That is rank hypocrisy. And let me just say, Bob—you talk about battle mode—my conservative friends, whom pride themselves on being Populists, don’t want the votes counted! That’s for sure…that is for sure. And secondly…secondly, in conclusion let me just say: You’re always extolling the virtues of local government; now, you don’t believe in local government! Now, ya’ can’t have it both ways..!"