With his panel stacked with liberal sympathizers like Norah O’Donnell, Dan Rather, and Cynthia Tucker, one wouldn’t have expected an honest assessment of the condition of today’s Democrat Party. Yet, as Matthews asked Rather if President Bush heading into the midterm elections can “change the issue” and “beat the wrap that he took us into Iraq,” Rather miraculously responded, “Yes and yes.” He then stated something that many impartial political observers have been saying for months, nay years: “A lot depends on what the Democrats respond with. And so far they haven't been able to get control of the agenda.”
Shocking. Yet, the best was yet to come when Matthews told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Cynthia Tucker that new polls indicated “35% of people say, ‘I'm going to the polls to vote against Bush.’” Tucker unbelievably responded: “Well, we'll have to see if that really works out because the Republicans have organization and they have money. They have an incredible get out the vote machine that's what worked for Lincoln Chafee in Rhode Island.’ She continued:
And the Democrats have to come back with a response and they don't have a credible response, yet. Bill Clinton, one of the best politicians of the last century, has said that the American people prefer strong and wrong to weak and right. So the Democrats are going to have to look right and strong if they're going to beat President Bush and the Republicans.
Matthews asked, “What are they now?”
Tucker astonishingly responded, “Uh, they may be right but they're certainly weak and disorganized.”
Amazing. What follows is a full transcript of this exchange along with a video link courtesy of our friend at GOP Video.
Matthews: But the president is not giving up without a fight. The latest polls show an uptick as he hammers away on terrorism. Dan, isn't this the fight, can the president change the issue, can he beat the history, can he beat the wrap that he took us into Iraq into a blunder?
Rather: Yes and yes. He can. Whether he will or not I think is way early. We just passed Labor Day. But the answer is, can he do that? Yes. A lot depends on what the Democrats respond with. And so far they haven't been able to get control of the agenda. Every day the president does something. And the next day’s newspapers have it. All the television has it and uh. He's in control of the debate just now. And the answer is, yes and yes. He can and can.
Matthews: Cynthia, the intensity of the anti-Bush field, I’ve noticed that the polls show a shift from the anti-Bush to the extremely anti-Bush. Not so much that he’s losing the fight over the 50-yard line, he’s losing the intensity battle. 35% of people say, “I'm going to the polls to vote against Bush.”
Tucker: Well, we'll have to see if that really works out because the Republicans have organization and they have money. They have an incredible get out the vote machine that's what worked for Lincoln Chafee in Rhode Island.
Chris: And negative ads.
Tucker: And negative ads, and they will certainly go negative. And the Democrats have to come back with a response and they don't have a credible response, yet. Bill Clinton, one of the best politicians of the last century, has said that the American people prefer strong and wrong to weak and right. So the Democrats are going to have to look right and strong if they're going to beat President Bush and the Republicans.
Chris: What are they now?
Tucker: Uh, they may be right but they're certainly weak and disorganized.
