WE HAVE NATIONAL AFFAIRS ANALYST JOHN HEILEMANN, MIKE BARNICLE IS
WITH US AND JOINING THE
CONVERSATION, DEMOCRATIC SENATOR
KAMALA HARRIS OF CALIFORNIA.
SHE HAS TWO BOOKS OUT, "THE
TRUTHS WE HOLD, AN AMERICAN
JOURNEY" AND A CHILDREN’S BOOK,
"SUPERHEROS ARE EVERYWHERE."
WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT
2020 POLITICS BUT FIRST LET’S
TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE AT HAND.
IN WASHINGTON WITH SO MANY
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES GETTING
PAYCHECKS TODAY WITH A BIG FAT
ZERO ON THEM, WHAT’S IT GOING TO
TAKE TO END THIS SHUTDOWN?
WHAT’S IT GOING TO TAKE TO PUSH
MITCH McCONNELL OVER THE EDGE
AND GET HIM TO CUT A DEAL?
IF THE PRESIDENT CUTS A DEAL ON
DREAMERS, A STRONG ONE, WOULD
THAT END THE SHUTDOWN?
>> WELL, FIRST, THE PRESIDENT IS
HOLDING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
HOSTAGE OVER HIS VANITY PROJECT.
THAT’S WHAT’S HAPPENING.
THIS IS A CRISIS OF HIS OWN
MAKING.
MAKING. I FOUND IT OUTRAGEOUS.
IT WOULD BE FASCINATING IF IT
WEREN’T POTENTIALLY SO
DESTRUCTIVE, TO SIT BACK AND
TALK ABOUT HE’S TALKING ABOUT AN
EMERGENCY ORDER OVER A CRISIS OF
HIS OWN MAKING.
WE HAVE A PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES PUTTING POLITICS
ABOVE THE NEEDS OF THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC.
PUBLIC. THAT’S WHERE WE ARE.
EHOPE THAT ALL OF US WHO HAVE
TAKEN AN OATH TO ACT ON BEHALF
OF THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT WOULD
STEP UP AND STEP UP AND SPEAK
OUT ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
PEOPLE. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TSA PEOPLE
WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING
ATTENTION TO NATIONAL SECURITY
SECURITY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE
ARE SAFE.
ARE SAFE. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FBI AGENTS
WHO ARE FURLOUGHED.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO
HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO
WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE IN THE INTEREST
OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO THE IRONY HERE IS THIS
PRESIDENT IS TALKING ABOUT A
WALL BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO
KEEP OUT SO-CALLED TERRORISTS,
WHICH WE KNOW IS NOT TRUE, IN
THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY
WHEN EACH DAY HE IS CHOKING THE
VERY PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR ACTUALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE
HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY EVERY DAY AS
AMERICANS.
AMERICANS. IT’S OUTRAGEOUS.
IT’S OUTRAGEOUS. YOU HAVE TO PUT THIS IN CONTEST.
>> SHOULD DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS AT THIS POINT BE
MEETING ON THEIR OWN?
SHOULD THEY TRY TO FIND THEIR
WAY AROUND THE PRESIDENT?
CAN THERE BE SOME UNITY IN AT
LEAST AGREEING THAT CRISIS IS A
WORD BEING MISUSED AND THIS
SHUTDOWN HAS TO END?
>> I THINK YOU’RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS
SHOULD RECOGNIZE THE CRISIS OF
LEADERSHIP AND WHERE THERE IS A
VOID AND A VACUUM IN PARTICULAR
THEN WE SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO
STEP UP.
STEP UP. NO QUESTION.
NO QUESTION. THERE’S NO QUESTION.
>> SO, SENATOR, THIS IS ACTUALLY
A MORE SPECIFIC PROBLEM FOR YOU
IN YOUR STATE BECAUSE THE "NEW
YORK TIMES" IS REPORTING THIS
MORNING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS
LOOKING AND ASKING IF HE CAN
DIVERT EMERGENCY FUNDS AWAY FROM
YOUR STATE, YOUR RECOVERY FROM
THE WILDFIRES IN NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA, TAKE $13.9 BILLION
ALLOCATED FOR HURRICANE AND FIRE
RELIEF TO TAKE THAT MONEY AND
USE IT ALONG THE BORDER.
WHAT’S YOUR REACTION TO THAT
IDEA?
IDEA? >> AGAIN, IT’S OUTRAGEOUS.
IT’S SAD TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,
WILLIE.
WILLIE. I SAY THIS BECAUSE I HAVE
TRAVELED TO PUERTO RICO AFTER
THAT ISLAND WAS DEVASTATED BY
NATURAL DISASTER, I WENT TO
PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AND I MET
WITH THE FAMILIES, THE FIRES
WERE STILL -- THE SMOKE, IT WAS
IN THE AIR.
I MET WITH THESE FAMILIES WHO
WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO RETURN TO
A HOME THEY ONLY KNEW.
I MET WITH FIREFIGHTERS IN
PARADISE, CALIFORNIA, WHO AS
THEY WERE FIGHTING FIRES KNEW
THAT THEIR HOMES HAD BURNED
DOWN.
DOWN. THESE ARE THE REAL STORIES
BEHIND THIS POLITICAL MAN IP
MANIPULATION THAT IS HAPPENING.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY IRRESPONSIBLE.
IT IS NOT ONLY IRRESPONSIBLE,
AND WE CAN SIT BACK AND DRINK
OUR COFFEE AND TALK ABOUT THIS
IS OUTRAGEOUS, IT’S ACTUALLY
HARMFUL ON A DAILY BASIS TO REAL
PEOPLE WHO HAVE A RIGHT TO
BELIEVE THEIR GOVERNMENT WILL
ACT IN THEIR BEST INTEREST AND
NOT IN THEIR SELFISH INTEREST.
IT’S A FARCE.
IT’S A FARCE.
THIS IS ALL HAPPENING IN THE
SO-CALLED INTEREST OF PUBLIC
SAFETY.
SAFETY. WELL, WHAT ABOUT FIRST
RESPONDERS?
RESPONDERS? WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES
HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED BY NATURAL
DISASTERS?
DISASTERS? THEY SHOULD BE OUR CONCERN.
NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT YOU
WANT TO TALK ABOUT THROWING
AROUND $5 BILLION.
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WOULD LOVE
TO SEE THOSE $5 BILLION PUT INTO
BUILDING UP ROADS AND BRIDGES
THAT ARE FALLING APART, INTO
MONEY THAT WE NEED TO INFUSE A
SYSTEM THAT MAYBE WOULD ALLOW
FOR THE FIRST TIME AFFORDABLE
CHILD CARE FOR WORKING FAMILIES.
A LOT WE COULD DO WITH $5
BILLION INSTEAD OF A VANITY
PROJECT.
PROJECT. >> SENATOR, LET’S BE CONSTRUCT
CONSTRUCTIVE.
CONSTRUCTIVE. WE KNOW WHO IT’S HURTING.
WHAT’S THE WAY OUT OF THIS?
WE ASKED A LOT OF YOUR
COLLEAGUES.
COLLEAGUES. PRESIDENT SAID $5.7 BILLION OR
BUST, I’M NOT MOVING.
YOUR DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES SAID
YOU’RE NOT GETTING 5D$5.7 BILLIO
HOW DO WE GET OUT OF THIS?
>> WE HAVE TO SPEAK UP.
WE HAVE TO SPEAK UP.
I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU AS AN
EXAMPLE SOMETHING THAT JUST
COMES TO MIND.
WHEN THIS ADMINISTRATION CREATED
A POLICY OF RIPPING BABIES FROM
THEIR MOTHER’S AND FATHER’S
ARMS, PEOPLE SPOKE UP AND PUT
THE PRESSURE ON THIS
ADMINISTRATION SAYING THIS IS
NOT REFLECTIVE OF OUR VALUES AND
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IN TERMS OF
THE ROLE OF OUR COUNTRY WHEN IT
COMES TO PEOPLE MOST IN NEED.
PEOPLE HAVE TO SPEAK UP.
THERE IS POWER IN THAT.
THERE IS SPOUPOWER IN THE ELECTE
MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES
CONGRESS SPEAKING UP.
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT
REPUBLICANS HERE?
REPUBLICANS HERE? >> I’M TALKING ABOUT EVERYBODY.
>> DO YOU THINK IF REPUBLICAN
SENATORS PUT PRESSURE ON THE
PRESIDENT THAT HE MIGHT BUCKLE
ON $5.7 BILLION?
>> I DO.
>> I DO. I DO BELIEVE THAT MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES ARE RESPECTED BY
THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
THEIR CONSTITUENTS. I DO BELIEVE ALL OF US IN A
POSITION OF ELECTED LEADERSHIP,
THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED US AND
EVEN THOSE WHO DIDN’T LOOK TO US
TO GIVE THEM SOME IDEA OF WHAT’S
GOING ON WITH THEIR GOVERNMENT
AND THEY PAY ATTENTION WHEN WE
TELL THEM WHAT’S HAPPENING AND
WHEN WE ARE HONEST WITH THEM AND
WHEN WE SPEAK TRUTH.
AND THEY LISTEN.
AND THIS IS STILL A DEMOCRACY,
WILLIE.
WILLIE. THIS IS STILL A DEMOCRACY.
AND I DO BELIEVE THE PEOPLE’S
WILL AND THEIR VOICE WILL BE
RESPECTED, BUT WE HAVE TO
ENCOURAGE IT.
ENCOURAGE IT. AND THAT’S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
A LEADER.
A LEADER. THIS IS WHAT’S GOING ON, GUYS.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT’S GOING ON
BEHIND THE SCENES.
THERE IS THAT RHETORIC AND THEN
THERE’S WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING.
>> THERE ARE SOME REPUBLICANS
STARTING TO SPEAK OUT AND
THERE’S LINDSEY GRAHAM WHO IS
ENCOURAGING THE PRESIDENT TO
DECLARE A NATIONAL CRISIS.
>> LET’S TALK ABOUT A NATIONAL
CRISIS.
CRISIS. IN LOS ANGELES, A POTENTIAL
TEACHER’S STRIKE.
TEACHER’S STRIKE. 900 SCHOOLS.
900 SCHOOLS. IT’S BEEN DELAYED UNTIL MONDAY.
80% OF THE CHILDREN IN THOSE
SCHOOL LIVE IN POVERTY.
>> WHYYES, THEY DO.
>> PART OF THE ELEMENT OF A
DEBATE OF A STRIKE IS HEALTH
CARE.
CARE. SOME TEACHERS RECEIVE LIFETIME
HOUSE BENEFITS ALONG WITH THEIR
SPOUSES.
SPOUSES. THE COST IS ENORMOUS.
SO THIS IS NOT JUST LOS ANGELES.
THIS IS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. >> SO THE NATIONAL CRISIS THAT
NO PRESIDENT, AT LEAST PRESIDENT
TRUMP HAS NOT ADDRESSED FROM THE
OVAL OFFICE IS THE RISING COST
OF HEALTH CARE.
80% OF CHILDREN IN ONE SCHOOL
DISTRICT LIVING IN POVERTY.
THAT’S NOT UNUSUAL WITH LIKE NO
SHOT FOR YOUR FUTURE OR THE
FUTURE --
FUTURE -- >> THAT’S RIGHT.
>> WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT
PART OF WHAT WE HAVE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE IS A VERY
UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH, WHICH IS
THAT WE ARE A SOCIETY THAT
PRETENDS TO CARE ABOUT EDUCATION
BUT NOT SO MUCH THE EDUCATION OF
OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN.
AND WE NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT
THAT.
THAT. WE HAVE ALLOWED OUR PUBLIC
EDUCATION SYSTEM TO ATROPHY.
TO YOUR POINT, I AM A
BENEFICIARY OF A PUBLIC
EDUCATION.
EDUCATION. WHEN I WAS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA,
IT WAS RANGED AS ONE OF THE
HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE
WE WERE PUTTING THE RESOURCES
INTO SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS AND
RECOGNIZING THEIR VALUE AND
PAYING THEM COMMENSURATE WITH
THEIR VALUE.
THEIR VALUE. WE WERE PUTTING RESOURCES INTO
THE CLASSROOM, KNOWING THAT THAT
IS GOING TO BE THE BEST
INDICATION OF WHAT OUR FUTURE
WILL LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF OUR
ECONOMIC HEALTH AND STANDING IN
THE WORLD.
THE WORLD. AND WE’VE FALL I DON’T KNOWEN SH
IT HAS TO BE ON A STATE LEVEL
AND LOCAL LEVEL FOR SURE.
>> HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RACE AND
CLASS AND ABOUT HOW SOME KIDS
MAKE IT AND SOME KIDS DON’T?
>> THIS IS A LONG CONVERSATION.
YOU WANT TO SIT BACK?
I’M HAPPY TO HAVE IT.
THERE’S A LOT TO TALK ABOUT ON
BOTH PIECES AND BOTH ARE
RELEVANT TO WHAT WE SEE AS
OUTCOMES AND ALSO WHAT WE ARE
PUTTING INTO THE SYSTEM.
I’LL CREDIT FORMER GOVERNOR
GERRY BROWN AND I’M A HUGE FAN
OF THE CURRENT GOVERNOR.
BUT GERRY BROWN CREATED A SYSTEM
GIVING LOCAL CONTROL AND IN
PARTICULAR CHANGING THE FACTORS
WE CONSIDER IN TERMS OF WHAT WE
PUT INTO RESOURCES INTO SCHOOL
DISTRICTS, FACTORING THE NUMBER
OF CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
WHO ARE IN THE FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM.
SYSTEM. FACTORING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE
HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF THOSE
FAMILIES AND ZIP CODES.
I’M GOING TO TELL YOU, WE CAN
GET INTO SOME REAL DETAIL HERE,
I THINK SO MUCH PUBLIC POLICY
WOULD BE BETTER IF WE REALLY
STARTED TO FACTOR IN ZIP CODES
IN TERMS OF HOW WE DISTRIBUTE
RESOURCES.
RESOURCES. AND THE BEAUTY OF IT, I’M REALLY
GOING TO GET INTO DETAIL, WHICH
I TALK ABOUT IN MY BOOK, IS ALSO
THAT RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF
PUBLIC POLICY IN OUR COUNTRY, WE
CAN’T GET INTO THAT LEVEL OF
DETAIL BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE THE
TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOWS US TO
COLLECT LARGE AMOUNTS OF DATA
AND ANALYZE IT IN A WAY THAT WE
COULD BE SO MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE
WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF LIMITED
RESOURCES AND I WOULD START WITH
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
PUBLIC EDUCATION. >> KAMALA, FIRST OF ALL, WE WANT
TO TALK ABOUT YOUR BOOK.
>> BOTH OF THEM!
>> THANK YOU, MIKA.
>> WE CAN’T WAIT TO GET KAMALA
ON THE SHOW BECAUSE WE WANT TO
TALK ABOUT BOTH BOOKS.
"THE TRUTHS WE HOLD" AND "SUPER
HEROS ARE EVERYWHERE" IS WHAT WE
ALWAYS WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.
THAT SAID, WE’RE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND.
>> I’M READY, I THINK.
>> WE’LL TALK ABOUT IT IN A
SECOND.
SECOND. FIRST QUESTION IS THERE’S BEEN
APP AWFUL LOT OF TALK ABOUT YOU
RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.
HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO MAKING THAT
DECISION?
DECISION? >> I’LL MAKE IT SOON.
I’M NOT GOING TO ANSWER TODAY
OBVIOUSLY.
OBVIOUSLY. >> WELL, THAT HURTS US.
>> WILLIE AND I --
>> THIS TRANSACTION IS NOT
WORKING.
WORKING. >> WILLIE AND I, WE CARE TOO
MUCH.
MUCH. WE’LL TAKE THE PAIN AND CONTINUE
THROUGH.
THROUGH. MORE IMPORTANTLY, I WANT TO ASK
YOU, THOUGH, IF YOU DECIDE TO
RUN FOR PRESIDENT, I WANT TO ASK
YOU THE ROGER MUDD QUESTION THAT
HE ASKED OF TED KENNEDY THAT TED
KENNEDY COULDN’T ANSWER AND
DOOMED HIS PRESIDENCY SINCE DAY
ONE AND THAT IS WHY WOULD YOU
WANT TO BE PRESIDENT?
>> BECAUSE I BELIEVE OUR COUNTRY
WANTS AND NEEDS LEADERSHIP THAT
PROVIDE AS VISION OF THE FUTURE
OF OUR COUNTRY IN WHICH EVERYONE
CAN SEE THEMSELVES, IN WHICH
EVERYONE CAN SEE THEMSELVES.
SO LET’S START FROM THAT AND
THEN THINK ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO
DO TO SPEAK TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE
OF OUR COUNTRY TO ENSURE THAT WE
SEE THEM, TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE
DON’T NEED TO ACCEPT FALSE
CHOICES IN TERMS OF HOW WE
APPROACH BLACKPOLLPUBLIC POLICY.
I’M A CAREER PROSECUTOR.
I’VE SPENT MY ENTIRE LIFE ALMOST
ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE CAN DO THAT AND FOCUS ALSO ON
BUILDING A HEALTHY ECONOMY.
WE ARE AT AN INFLEXION POINT NOT
ON IN THE HISTORY OF THIS
COUNTRY BUT THE WITHHOLDORLD.
THERE’S BEEN SO MUCH ABOUT THE
FOCUS OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
2016 AND WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
DIFFERENT BUT WHAT WOULD NOT
HAVE CHANGED IS THAT WE ARE
STILL A WORLD, A GLOBE, IN THE
MIDST OF AN INDUSTRIAL
REVOLUTION.
REVOLUTION. WE ARE SEEING ASCENDING AND
DESCENDING ECONOMIES, SHIFTING
POPULATIONS FOR A VARIETY OF
REASONS, INCLUDING WHAT WE NEED
TO TALK MORE ABOUT, WHICH IS
CLIMATE CHANGE.
CLIMATE CHANGE. THERE IS SO MUCH CHANGE
HAPPENING IN THE WORLD.
AND THE QUESTION I THINK FOR US
AS A COUNTRY IS WHERE DO WE WANT
TO BE IN THIS MOMENT AND WHERE
DO WE WANT TO BE IN THE NEAR
FUTURE?
FUTURE? WE NEED TO CLAIM OUR POSITION
AND START THINKING ABOUT THAT.
AND THAT INVOLVES THINKING ABOUT
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO PREPARE THE
WORKFORCE FOR THE JOBS OF THE
21st CENTURY?
21st CENTURY? WHAT ARE WE THINKING ABOUT IN
TERMS OF RECOGNIZING THAT SOME
PEOPLE WILL APPLAUD CHINA FOR
ITS EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS
AND MAYBE EVEN POINT TO IT AS
THE NEW MODEL OF ECONOMIC POWER,
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE
ALL PRIDED OURSELVES ON AS A
SOURCE OF OUR STRENGTH IS WE
HAVE BEEN AN ECONOMIC POWER THAT
UNDERSTANDS THAT CANNON SHOULD
CO EXIST WITH AN EQUAL
COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND
EQUALITY AND FREEDOMS.
THESE ARE THE ISSUES BEING
PRESENTED TO OUR COUNTRY TODAY.
AND THOSE ARE THE ISSUES I THINK
ABOUT.
ABOUT. AND READ THE BOOK BECAUSE --
>> WELL, I WAS JUST GOING TO GET
TO THAT BECAUSE THAT’S REALLY
WHY YOU’RE HERE.
I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS
LAST QUESTION AND THEN WE’RE
GOING TO GET TO THE BOOK.
FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAVE BEEN
FOLLOWING THIS FOR FAR TOO LONG
AND THEN CONNECTED TO WASHINGTON
FOR FAR TOO LONG, WE SAW THE
42nd PRESIDENT IMPEACHED, WE SAW
THE 43rd PRESIDENT COME IN AND
HE CAMPAIGNED AS A UNITER, NOT A
DIVIDER.
DIVIDER. IN FACT, YOU TALK TO PEOPLE IN
TEXAS, GEORGE W. BUSH WORKED
VERY WELL WITH DEMOCRATS IN
TEXAS.
TEXAS. BARACK OBAMA, THE 44th PRESIDENT
HAD THAT REMARKABLE SPEECH IN
BOSTON WHEN HE SAID I DON’T SEE
A RED AMERICA, I DON’T SEE A
BLUE AMERICA, I SEE ONE AMERICA.
AND THEN OF COURSE ANOTHER EIGHT
YEARS OF DIVISIVE PRESIDENCY,
NOT BLAMING BUSH OR OBAMA, I’M
JUST SAYING THEY COULDN’T FIGURE
OUT A WAY TO CRACK THAT CODE.
OF COURSE NOW WE HAVE DONALD
TRUMP.
TRUMP. IF YOU RUN FOR PRESIDENT AND YOU
WERE THE 46th PRESIDENT, HOW DO
YOU BRING THIS COUNTRY TOGETHER?
SO PEOPLE IN TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA
AND TOPEKA, KANSAS THINK THAT
YOU ARE THEIR PRESIDENT EVERY
BIT AS MUCH AS SOMEBODY ON THE
UPPER WEST SIDE OF MANHATTAN OR
IN SAN FRANCISCO?
>> IT HAS TO BE BECAUSE ONE
KNOWS IN THEIR CORE, IN THEIR
BEING, IN THEIR SOUL AND IN
THEIR HEART THAT THE VAST
MAJORITY OF US AS AMERICANS HAVE
SO MUCH MORE IN COMMON THAN WHAT
SEPARATES US.
SEPARATES US. YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT.
THERE’S AN INFERENCE THAT IN A
PLACE WHERE THERE IS DIVERSITY
AND DIVERSE POPULATIONS, THERE
IS SOME SUGGESTION THAT WHERE
THERE IS DIVERSITY WE CANNOT
ACHIEVE UNITY.
ACHIEVE UNITY. .
. THINK OF IT ALMOST AS A
MATHEMATICAL FORMULA.
MATHEMATICAL FORMULA. I WOULD PROPOSE A DIFFERENT
FORMULA, DIVERSITY PLUS X EQUALS
EQUALS -- NOT TO MENTION WHAT WE
CAN TALK ABOUT CLASS DIVERSEITYD
IT IS A MISTAKE TO SUGGEST THAT
IN THAT DIVERSITY WE DON’T HAVE
INCREDIBLE COMMON PRIORITIES AND
VALUES.
VALUES. AND HERE’S HOW I THINK ABOUT IT
AS AN EXAMPLE.
WHEN PEOPLE WAKE UP AT 3:00 IN
THE MORNING, OR YOU CAN CALL IT
THE WITCHING HOUR IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGHT WITH THE THING
THAT’S BEEN WEIGHING ON THEM
WHEN THEY WAKE UP WITH A COLD
SWEAT, WHEN THE VAST MAJORITY
WAKE UP WITH THAT THOUGHT, IT IS
NEVER THROUGH THE LENS OF OUR
PARTY, AND WHEN WE WAKE UP
THINKING THAT THOUGHT, IT HAS TO
DO WITH OUR PERSONAL HEALTH, THE
HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN OR
PARENTS, FOR SO MANY AMERICANS
CAN I GET A JOB, KEEP A JOB, PAY
THE BILLS BY THE END OF THE
MONTH.
MONTH. THE VAST MAJORITY HAVE SO MUCH
MORE IN COMMON THAN SEPARATE US.
WE HAVE TO REJECT THE VOICES
TRYING TO SOW HATE AND DIVISION
AMONG US AND I THINK WE HAVE TO
RECOGNIZE THE TRUTH OF WHO WE
ARE AND TO SPEAK TO THAT TRUTH.
>> THAT’S A PERFECT SEG WAY TO
YOUR BOOK "THE TRUTHS WE HOLD."
>> THANK GOD WE’RE FINALLY
TALKING ABOUT THE BOOK.
WILLIE, THIS IS OUR TIME.
>> ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN THE
TRUTH IS BEING PUT IN QUESTION
EVERY DAY BY THE PRESIDENT OF
THEINS.
THEINS. MUCH OF THE BOOK IS FRAMED
AROUND YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR
STORY.
STORY. >> YES.
>> YES. >> HOW MUCH OF YOUR STORY
PREPARES YOU FOR PUBLIC SERVICE,
DO YOU THINK?
ESPECIALLY PERHAPS EVEN THE
HIGHEST LEVEL OF IT?
>> THANK YOU, MIKA.
AND YOU I THINK MOST OF US
APPRECIATE THE IMPACT THAT OUR
PARENTS HAVE HAD ON OUR LIVES.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> AND IN PARTICULAR MY MOTHER,
YOU SEE A PICTURE OF MY PARENTS
WHEN THEY WERE MARRIED.
MY MOTHER HAD A VERY PROFOUND
IMPACT ON WHO I AM.
SHE WAS ALL OF FIVE FEET TALL
BUT WOULD YOU HAVE THOUGHT SHE
WAS SEVEN FEET TALL.
HER WHOLE GOAL IN LIFE, SHE WAS
A BREAST CANCER RESEARCHER, WAS
TO RAISE HER TWO DAUGHTERS AND
END BREAST CANCER.
AND I WAS RAISED IN A COMMUNITY
OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED AND BELIEVED
AND TAUGHT US THAT YOUR LIFE HAS
TO BE ON ONE LEVEL OR ANOTHER IN
SERVICE OF OTHERS.
AND THE CRITICAL POINT ABOUT HOW
I WAS RAISED IS THAT TO BE CLEAR
THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT A
CHARITABLE PURSUIT.
CHARITABLE PURSUIT. YOU DON’T DO IT JUST BECAUSE OH,
I HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA TO GIVE,
I’M GOING TO JUST DOLE IT OUT
AND AREN’T I LOVELY AND
WONDERFUL BECAUSE I’M SO
BENEVOLENT AND GIVE A LITTLE BIT
WHAT I HAVE TO GIVE.
I WAS RAISED THAT IT WAS A
DUTY --
DUTY -- >> DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS.
>> YES.
>> YES. AND THAT IN MANY WAYS FORMED MY
LIFE.
LIFE. I CHOSE WITH THAT CALLING OR
THAT SPIRIT TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.
I WANTED TO BE A LAWYER.
MY HEROS GROWING UP WITH
THURGOOD MARSHAL AND ALL THOSE
FOLKS AND THEN I DECIDED TO
BECOME A PROSECUTOR BECAUSE I
BELIEVED THERE WERE VULNERABLE
AND VOICELESS PEOPLE WHO
DESERVED TO HAVE A VOICE WITHIN
THAT SYSTEM AND I HOPED TO DO
WHAT I COULD IN TERMS OF
REFORMING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
SYSTEM. >> HEILEMANN.
>> HEILEMANN. >> I’M GOING TO ASK YOU A
QUESTION THAT’S NOT DIRECTLY
ABOUT THE BOOK BUT --
>> DID YOU READ THE BOOK, JOHN?
>> I SPED READ THROUGH THIS
THING --
THING -- >> INDEX.
>> INDEX. >> NO.
>> NO. >> THERE IS AN INDEX.
YOU HAVE TO LOOK AND SEE IF YOUR
NAME’S NOT IN IT, PEOPLE WON’T
READ IT.
READ IT. >> I LOOKED TO SEE IF BARNICLE’S
NAME IS MENTIONED.
HE’S MENTIONED LIKE 37 TIMES IN
THE BOOK SO IT’S WORTH READING.
THE WOMAN WHO WROTE THIS BOOK
SITS ON THE SENATE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE AND NEXT WEEK WILL
BEGIN THE PROCESS OF CONFIRMING
A NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO HAS
WRITTEN SOME THINGS AS A PRIVATE
CITIZENS, EXPRESSING A LOT OF
CRITICISM AND DOUBT OF THE
SPECIAL COUNSEL, SOMEONE WHO HAS
NOT BEEN MEETING WITH A LOT OF
YOUR DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES.
I DON’T KNOW IF YOU’VE MET WITH
HIM OR NOT YET.
>> I HAVE NOT.
>> TELL ME WHAT YOUR ATTITUDE
IS.
IS. WHAT ARE THE KINDS OF QUESTIONS
YOU WANT TO ASK HIM AND WHAT DO
YOU THINK YOUR RECOMMENDATION,
YOUR VOTE FOR HIS CONFIRMATION
OR NOT, WHAT ARE THE THINGS ON
WHICH THAT WILL TURN?
>> ONE, TO YOUR POINT OF THE
QUESTION AND ALL THAT WE KNOW
JUST AS A PUBLIC MATTER, I AM
INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT HE
BELIEVES WERE THE INCENTIVES FOR
HIS NOMINATION TO BE THE NEXT
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED
STATES.
STATES. DID HE BELIEVE THAT IT WAS
IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO WRITE
LETTERS ABOUT SPECIAL COUNSEL.
IF THAT’S THE CASE, THAT’S
TROUBLING AND I WORRY ABOUT THAT
BECAUSE AS A FORMER ATTORNEY
GENERAL OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA AND AS, AGAIN,
SOMEONE WHO HAS FOCUSED ON THESE
ISSUES FOR MOST OF MY CAREER, I
WOULD HOPE THAT THE MOTIVATION
WOULD BE TO DO THE WORK OF
JUSTICE, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT
WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR ME
SITTING ON THE SENATE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE THAT HE
IS MOTIVATED BY THE RIGHT AND
APPROPRIATE INTERESTS TO LEAD
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE.
JUSTICE. SO THOSE ARE PART OF MY
CONCERNS.
CONCERNS. I’M ALSO GOING TO BE CURIOUS,
FRANKLY, ABOUT HIS POSITION ON
WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
HAS DONE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS
UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION.
AND BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY
BIG THINGS AND BIG, YOU KNOW,
STORIES THAT POP EVERY DAY, I
THINK WE’VE LOST SIGHT OF WHAT
QUIETLY IS HAPPENING IN THIS
ADMINISTRATION AND SO MANY OF
ITS AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT IF HE GETS
CONFIRMED, WHICH HE’S LIKELY TO,
DO YOU THINK THERE’S A CASE ON
THE BASIS OF WHAT WE KNOW
ALREADY FOR HIM TO HAVE TO
RECUSE HIMSELF FROM MANAGING THE
MUELLER CASE?
MUELLER CASE? >> I THINK THERE’S A GOOD
ARGUMENT FOR HIM TO RECUSE
HIMSELF, YES.
HIMSELF, YES. >> I SEE YOU HOLDING YOUR BOOK.
WE’LL PULL IT UP AGAIN.
>> WAIT, THE CHILDREN’S BOOK,
HAVE I TO HOLD THAT UP, TOO.
>> JUST GO ON.
WHAT’S THE NEXT QUESTION?
>> COLBERT GOT YOU TO MIGHT RUN
LAST NIGHT.
LAST NIGHT. HE GOT YOU THERE.
WE CAN SPEAK HYPOTHETICALLY, IF
YOU’D LIKE.
YOU’D LIKE. IF YOU WERE TO RUN FOR
PRESIDENT, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR
POSTURE TOWARD PRESIDENT TRUMP?
NO ONE QUESTIONS THAT YOU COULD
HANDLE HIM.
HANDLE HIM. WE’VE WATCHED YOUR CAREER, WE’VE
WATCHED YOU QUESTION JAMES COMEY
AND JEFF SESSIONS AND ROD
ROSENSTEIN IN VERY PUBLIC
SETTINGS, BUT THIS NEW CLASS OF
DEMOCRATS WHO COME IN HAVE GONE
WITH A FULL FRONTAL POSTURE, THE
LANGUAGE WE’VE HEARD FROM
CERTAIN MEMBERS AS WELL --
>> AND LET’S NOT FORGET THE
LANGUAGE WE’VE HEARD FROM
LONGSTANDING MEMBERS IN THE LAST
24 HOURS.
24 HOURS. >>WITHOUT QUESTION.
>>WITHOUT QUESTION. I’M THINKING BACK TO THE 2016
CAMPAIGN, MARCO RUBIO TRIED TO
PLAY DONALD TRUMP’S GAME AND USE
INSULTS AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS
AND IT DIDN’T WORK.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR POSTURE
TOWARD PRESIDENT TRUMP?
POLICY IS A DIFFERENT QUESTION.
HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE HIM?
WOULD YOU FIGHT HIM
RHETORICALLY?
RHETORICALLY? WOULD YOU USE THE KIND OF
LANGUAGE YOU’VE HEARD IN THE
LAST FEW DAYS.
>> CANDIDLY, MY FOCUS WOULD BE
IF I WERE GOING TO RUN, IT WOULD
NOT BE DONALD TRUMP.
IT WOULD BE THE VOTERS AND THE
PEOPLE OF OUR COUNTRY.
THEY DESERVE, I BELIEVE, IT HEAR
FROM ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BE A
LEADER.
LEADER. THEY DESERVE TO HEAR FROM ANY
ONE OF US WHO PUTS OURSELVES OUT
THERE HOW WE ARE GOING TO BE
RELEVANT TO THEIR LIVES.
I BELIEVE THAT SHOULD BE THE
FOCUS OF THE CONVERSATION.
AND TO THE EXTENT THAT IT WOULD
INVARIABLY BRING UP WHAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE OR NOT
DONE, OF COURSE THAT IS
RELEVANT.
RELEVANT. I BELIEVE THE MOTIVATION AND THE
FOCUS OF THE CONVERSATION SHOULD
BE HOW ARE WE OR WHETHER WE ARE
RELEVANT IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE LIVING EVERY DAY WHO
EXPECT AND SHOULD TRUST THAT
THEIR GOVERNMENT IS THINKING OF
THEM AND NOT OF OURSELVES.
THAT WOULD BE MY MOTIVATION.
>> SENATORS KAMALA HARRIS, THANK
YOU FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.
THE TWO BOOKS ARE "THE TRUTH WE
HOLD" AND THE CHILDREN’S BOOK
"SUPERHEROS ARE EVERYWHERE."