CAROLINA AND NEVADA. HE’S OFF AND RUNNING
>> MIKE, THANK YOU
WE WILL WATCH THAT CAREFULLY
MIKE IN WASHINGTON
>> NOW, A VERY SPECIAL GUEST
FORMER SENIOR ADVISER TO BARACK
OBAMA.
OBAMA. VALERIE JARRETT.
VALERIE JARRETT. ALSO THE AUTHOR OF FINDING MY
VOICE, MY JOURNEY TO THE WEST
WING AND THE PATH FORWARD.
VALERIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US
JOINING US YOU KNOW WE MUST START WITH THIS
ABOUT TO BE ANNOUNCEMENT JOE
BIDEN POTENTIALLY ANNOUNCING
THAT HE WILL BE RUNNING ON
THURSDAY
THURSDAY YOU HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY
WITH HIM DURING YOUR TIME IN THE
WEST WING.
WEST WING. HE SAYS HE IS RUNNING AS AN
OBAMA CANDIDATE.
OBAMA CANDIDATE. BY YOUR ESTIMATION, HOW DOES
THAT WORK?
THAT WORK? >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I’M NOT
GOING TO GET OUT AHEAD OF VICE
PRESIDENT BIDEN AND MAKE ANY NEW
US, SO LET’S WAIT AND SEE WHAT
HE DOES.
HE DOES. I CAN TELL YOU THIS, STEPHANIE
I CAN’T IMAGINE IN HISTORY A
CLOSER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A
VICE PRESIDENT AND THE
PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT. I KNOW HOW MUCH PRESIDENT OBAMA
AND ALL OF US RELIED ON THE WISE
COUNSEL AND ADVICE OF VICE
PRESIDENT BIDEN.
PRESIDENT BIDEN. I THINK OUR FIELD HAS ON THE
DEMOCRATIC SIDE AN EMBARRASSMENT
OF RICHES AND I’D BE HEARTENED
TO SEE MORE FOLKS GET INTO THE
RACE
RACE >> WHAT’S YOUR SENSE OF YOU
KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTS THE KNOW
WHAT PRESIDENT OBAMA’S GOING TO
DO
DO WHO HE’S GOING TO ENDORSE.
WHERE HE’S COMING DOWN ON THESE
THINGS
THINGS OBVIOUSLY IF YOU’RE RUNNING AS
THE OBAMA BIDEN CANDIDATE, WHICH
ARE WORDS THAT HE SAID HIMSELF,
WHAT, TAKE US INTO PRESIDENT
OBAMA’S MIND ABOUT THESE THINGS.
>> WELL HE’S MET WITH SEVERAL OF
THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE RUNNING
I’VE HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH
HIM.
HIM. I THINK THAT WHAT RESOGNATES
STILL IS A MESSAGE THAT UNIFIES
OUR COUNTRY.
OUR COUNTRY. CANDIDATES WHO ARE AUTHENTIC
WHO HAVE A CLEAR VISION AND ABLE
ABILITY TO EXECUTE AND RECOGNIZE
AS PRESIDENT OBAMA DID NOT ONCE,
BUT TWICE, THAT YOU HAVE TO GO
OUT THERE AND EARN IT.
EVERY SINGLE DAY
I THINK IT’S VERY EARLY IN THE
SEASON
SEASON I WOULD REMIND EVERYBODY THAT
WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS RUNNING
BACK IN THE BEGINNING IN 2007, I
THINK EVERYONE WOULD HAVE SAID
THAT HILLARY CLINTON WAS THE
INEVITABLE NOMINEE
INEVITABLE NOMINEE SO A LOT CAN HAPPEN.
THIS IS A MARATHON AND I THINK
WE’RE ALL INTEREST EDED IN SEEIN
HOW EACH CANDIDATE DOES ON THE
FIELD.
FIELD. >> BERNIE SANDERS IS RIGHT
BEHIND JOE BIDEN IN THE
BATTLEGROUND STATES.
BATTLEGROUND STATES. HE SUPPORTS, HE’S BEEN CLEAR
ABOUT IT, MEDICARE FOR ALL
YOU WERE THERE
YOU WERE A PART OF IT WHEN OBAMA
CARE PASSED.
CARE PASSED. DO YOU ENVISION HEALTH CARE
BECOMING FRONT AND CENTER IN
THIS NEXT ELECTION, ESPECIALLY
GIVEN WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE DOING
TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AT
THIS POINT
THIS POINT >> I THINK IT SHOULD BE FRONT
AND CENTER
AND CENTER I THINK THAT WE DID WHAT WE
COULD DO TO TRY TO CRACK THE
BIPARTISAN BILL ONE MODELLED
AFTER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR
ROMNEY’S BILL AND IT GOES A LONG
WAY TOWARDS ENSURING THAT PEOPLE
HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH
INSURANCE.
INSURANCE. PEOPLE ARE PREEXISTING HEALTH
INSURANCE ARE COVERED.
WOMEN HAVE PREVENTIVE CARE,
CHILDREN CAN STAY ON THEIR
PARENT’S PLAN UNTIL THEIR 26
THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN AND
CONTINUE TO TAKE AWAY THOSE
BENEFITS AND I THINK IT IS A
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT. IT SHOULDN’T BE A PRIVILEGE AND
I HOPE IT IS FRONT AND CENTER IN
THE CAMPAIGN
THE CAMPAIGN >> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU’VE
LEARNED AND THAT WAS LEARNED IN
THE BILL CLINTON ADMINISTRATION
IS THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT
ARE ASPIRATIONAL ON THE TRAIL
AND THINGS THAT HAVE TO GET
THROUGH CONGRESS
THROUGH CONGRESS PARTICULARLY WHEN IT’S A DIVIDED
CONGRESS
CONGRESS A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT YOUR
ADMINISTRATION STRUGGLED WITH
ARE BEING DEALT WITH NOW
GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION.
SENATOR HARRIS VOWS TO ENACT
EXECUTIVE ACTION ON THAT
THERE’S STUDENT DEBT
FORGIVENESS.
FORGIVENESS. SENATOR WARREN IS SO PROSING
TALK TO ME ABOUT THE DEGREE TO
WHICH AMERICANS SHOULD BE ANYONE
TO EVALUATE THESE AS
ASPIRATIONAL OR ACTUALLY DO ABL.
>> I THINK THEY SHOULD BE BOTH
I THINK WE LOOK O OUR CANDIDATES
TO HAVE ASPIRATIONAL GOALS AND
THE SAYING IS THAT YOU CAMPAIGN
IN POETRY AND GOVERN IN PROSE.
I THINK THE KEY IS TAKING THOSE
ASPIRATIONAL IDEAS AND TRYING TO
IMPLEMENT THEM
IMPLEMENT THEM I THINK WHAT WE EXPERIENCED
UNFORTUNATELY WERE REPUBLICANS
WHO WANTED TO SAY NO AND DIDN’T
RECOGNIZE IN A BIG COMPLICATED
WONDERFULLY RICH DIVERSE COUNTY
TRIP SUCH AS OURS THAT YOU CAN’T
LET PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF THE
GOOD
GOOD AND YOU CAN’T SIMPLY SAY NO.
THAT’S NOT WHAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE EXPECT.
PEOPLE EXPECT. AND I THINK CANDIDATES HAVE TO
RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN THEY’RE SENT
HERE ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, THEY SHOULD TRY TO DO
THE BEST THEY CAN.
YOU INCH FURTHER ALONG IN THAT
PERFECT UNION AND SOMETIMES IT
COMES IN A BIG BURST THE WAY
AFFORDABLE CARE DID OR DON’T ASK
DON’T TELL OR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO IMPBL
ALONG THE WAY WE DID WHEN WE HAD
TO RESORT TO EXECUTIVE ORDERS
BECAUSE WOULDN’T TAKE REASONABLE
STEPS.
STEPS. EVERY AMERICAN GETS TO EVALUATE
THE CANDIDATES BY WHAT THEY
DECIDE AS THE APPROPRIATE LITMUS
TEST
TEST >> AS YOU LOOK AT THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY RIGHT NOW, WHAT DOES IT
LOOK LIKE?
LOOK LIKE? THE TWITTER UNIVERSE WOULD SAY
IT’S PUSHING FURTHER TO THE LEFT
IF YOU WATCHED THE TOWN HALLS
LAST NIGHT
LAST NIGHT BUT IN THE MIDTERMS, WHERE YOU
SAW OVERWHELMING WINS IN THOSE
CANDIDATES WHO ACTUALLY FLIPPED
STATES, WERE MODERATE.
PEOPLE HAD MESSAGES MORE LIKE
AMY KLOBUCHAR.
AMY KLOBUCHAR. NANCY PELOSI SAID I THINK OCASIO
CAR
CAR CORTEZ IS FANTASTIC, BUT ALL YOU
NEED IS A BLUE D BY YOUR NAME
AND WE’LL WIN.
WE NEED TO BE A MORE CENTERED
STRATEGY TO DEFEAT PRESIDENT
TRUMP.
TRUMP. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS TO LEAN
IN ORDER TO WIN THIS NEXT
ELECTION
ELECTION >> I THINK ONE OF THE STRENGTHS
OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS THAT
WE HAVE A BIG TENT
ALL IDEAS ARE WELCOME.
AND THEY’RE DEBATED AND I THINK
THAT THAT’S A HE WILLALTHY PART
THE PROCESS.
THE PROCESS. SO I WOULDN’T SAY YOU KNOW THAT
THERE IS A TEST THAT YOU HAVE TO
BE B EXPOSITIONED.
I THINK WHAT YOU WANT IS A
LEADER WHO HAS A CLEAR VISION
FOR OUR COUNTRY.
ONE THAT LOOKS AT CREATING
OPPORTUNITY, ENLARGING THE PIE
MAKING SURE NO YOUNG PERSON IS
LEFT BEHIND.
LEFT BEHIND. AND THEN WHANSONCE YOU’RE IN OFF
CAN YOU SURROUND YOURSELF WITH A
TEAM THAT CAN EFFECTIVELY
EXECUTE ON THAT STRATEGY AND WHO
IS WILLING TO COMPROMISE FOR THE
GREATER GOOD
GREATER GOOD SO I DON’T THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE
JUST ONE TEST AND ONE POSITION
THAT REFLECTS THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.
PARTY. I THINK WHAT WE DO IS HAVE A
VISION THEN MOVE FORWARD THE
BEST WE CAN AND SOMETIMES IT’S
INCREMENTAL AND SOMETIMES A
BURST.
BURST. >> LET ME JUST ASK YOU TO GET A
LITTLE DEEPER INTO THAT.
RECENT POLLING INDICATES THAT
41% OF DEMOCRATS THINK THE PARTY
SHOULD BE MORE LIBERAL AND 54%
THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE MORE
MODERATE
MODERATE YOU REALLY IS IN TERMS OF
UNDERSTANDING STRATEGY
UNDERSTANDING STRATEGY THAT TO ME LOOKS LIKE REALLY
DIFFICULT MATH
DIFFICULT MATH EVEN IF YOU’RE A BIG TENT.
WHEN YOU HAVE YOU KNOW MORE THAN
HALF WANTING TO GO ONE
DIRECTION.
DIRECTION. A LITTLE LESS THAN HALF TO GO
ANOTHER DIRECTION.
ANOTHER DIRECTION. HOW DO YOU MODERATE THAT
DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION >> WELL I DON’T LOOK AT IT AS
LABELS SUCH AS LIBERAL OR
CONSERVATIVE OR MODERATE
I SAY WE’RE ALL PROGRESSIVES
AND SO WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THE
ISSUES, SPECIFIC ISSUES, HEALTH
CARE
CARE KEEPING GUNS OUT OF THE WRONG
HAND
HAND GROWING THE ECONOMY.
REDUCING STUDENT DEBT.
MAKING SURE THAT EVERY YOUNG
PERSON GETS THAT OPPORTUNITY
I THINK THAT’S THE WAY WE SHOULD
LOOK AT THE ISSUE RATHER THAN
JUST LABELS.
JUST LABELS. LET’S’ WHERE CANDIDATES FALL ON
SPECIFIC CONCRETE ISSUES THAT
AFFECT OUR LIVES
THAT’S WHAT I WOULD BE LOOKING
FOR IS WHO’S GOING TO MAKE MY
LIFE AND THE LIFE OF MY CHILDREN
AND GRANDCHILDREN BETTER
>> THERE ARE FACTIONS OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY WHO BELIEVE THE
SYSTEM SHOULD BE BLOWN UP.
THEY HAVE ACTUALLILY SIMILAR
IDEAL L TO PEOPLE ON THE FAR
RIGHT.
RIGHT. WE KNOW BERNIE SUPPORTERS THAT
STAYED HOME OR IN SOME CASE,
VOTED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.
SO THIS TIME AROUND, DO YOU
ACTUALLY THINK THOSE VOTERS
COULD BRING THEMSELVES TO THE
MIDDLE IN ORDER TO DEFEAT THE
PRESIDENT OR ARE THEY, ARE WE
GOING TO FALL INTO THAT SAME
SITUATION AGAIN.
SITUATION AGAIN. >> I THINK THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS HAS BEEN A REAL WAKE UP
CALL AND TO THE 43% OF AMERICANS
WHO DID NOT VOTE IN THE LAST
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, I WOULD
SAY TO YOU WE CAN’T AFFORD TO
HAVE YOU ON THE SIDELINES.
THE STAKES ARE TOO HIGH.
ELECTIONS DO HAVE CONSEQUENCES
AND WE NEED YOU INVOLVED
CAN’T JUST SAY IT DOESN’T MATTER
OR DIDN’T GET THE CANDIDATE OF
YOUR CHOICE.
YOUR CHOICE. WHAT I’M HOPING IS IS THAT
WHOEVER EMERGES AS THE NOMINEE
OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS ABLE
TO GALVANIZE AND SUPPORT THE
SUPPORT FROM ENTIRE PARTY.
THAT’S WHAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO
DEFEAT THE PRESIDENT AND THAT
SHOULD BE FRONT AND CENTER I
THINK IF EVERYBODY’S OBJECTIVE
IF WE LOOK CAREFULLY AT WHAT HAS
HAPPENED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS
IN TERMS OF ATTEMPTS TO
DISMANTLE THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT, WALKING AWAY FROM THE IRAN
DEAL, WALKING AWAY FROM THE
CLIMATE CHANGE DEAL, SEPARATING
FAMILIES AT THE BORDER
CLEAR EVIDENCE OF VALUES THAT
ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THE CORE
VALUES OF AMERICA, THEN I THINK
THE CHALLENGE IS DON’T LET
PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF THE
GOOD
GOOD FIND THE CANDIDATE WHO CAN
DEFEAT THIS PRESIDENT.
>> VALERIE, THE BOOK IS GREAT.
CALLED FINDING MY VOICE.
MY JOURNEY TO THE WEST WING AND
THE PAST FORWARD BY VALERIE