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Republican National Convention - Day 2
Thursday, January 25, 2007(The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation)
Republican National Convention - Day 2
Guest: Richard C. Harwood, Special to
MSNBC
MSNBC-Will: Ok guys, we're
starting with Rich Harwood in just a few. Rich
is an expert on voter behavior and a political
analyst. yesterday we talked a lot about
education today's theme for the convention is
National security Ok great! I've got Mr.
Harwood here on the line. and I've got
questions, so let's go Welcome Mr.
Harwood.
ASKMSNBC: independent-guest
says: I think the GOP is having a convention
Bump right now which is typical but if the DEMs
can proove the difference in the 2 they will
win but if both party's appear to be the same
Bush has a chance a cosmetic
chance
Rich_Harwood: I don't agree. I
think either man has a chance to win, if they
put forth a sensible, and realistic vision for
the country. And if they demonstrate character
in doing so... It's not for Mr. Gore to lose
this election, it is for either man to
win.
ASKMSNBC: bruno-guest says: Anyone
notice the media doesn't know how to handle the
new tone or face of the W Bush
GOP?
Rich_Harwood: Yes, I agree with
that. I think it's because it's not clear
whether or not this new GOP face grows out of
someone's beliefs and character, or whether it
is simply some ideas that were focus group
tested, which is how much of politics is done
today. I think the American public should wait
and see how things unfold, give both these men
a chance, and time will tell the difference
between what's real and simply what's been made
up. The news media also has to hold its breath,
and report not just on their disbelief in what
someone is saying, but I think has some
responsibility to report on what that person is
actually trying to put forth as
well.
ASKMSNBC: steve_baxley-guest365
says: why is it that the media seems to be the
bad guys during, before ,and after these
campaigns, especially one channel which has
admitted to being a tool for the republican
party .making what monica did to clinton look
like a badly made porn film....why cant the
media ever be welcomed if not
cheered
Rich_Harwood: I think there are
lots of places where the media are cheered, and
where they do quite a good job. But I think
overall the American people do not feel that
the media reflects the reality of situations,
but rather moves toward hype, sensationalism,
and trying to drum up ratings and reader
circulation to benefit their bottom line. There
is a real issue of trust and credibility for
the media within America
today.
ASKMSNBC: duck-guest says: Would
it be possible to reveal that Gore and Cheney's
abortion votes were the same, except for
1?
ASKMSNBC: duck-guest says: Would it
be possible to point out that Bill Nelson, with
whom Clinton attended 3 fundraisers yesterday,
voted the same as Cheney on the Mandela
issue?
Rich_Harwood: If those are facts,
they would be worthwhile to bring forth. I
think the question with Cheney is whether or
not he can tell America not just about his
votes, and that the times were different then,
but if he can explain why he believed what he
did at the time of those votes, whether or not
he has learned anything since then, and whether
or not that has altered his policy positions,
in terms of how the nation moves forward from
hereon out. Otherwise we'll be stuck in another
cat and mouse game, of simply trying to prove
that Cheney is somehow not coming clean, which
really doesn't help the process move
forward.
ASKMSNBC: guest-wanda says:
Rich, I ask you yesterday what you thought the
media would do to Laura Bush and her speech,
well, I think she hit it out of the ballpark
and the first words I heard our of Judy
Woodridge mouth, was what a political speech
that was, can you
believe????
Rich_Harwood: Yes, I can, I
can believe it. Because I think Laura Bush's
speech may have straddled the fence too
closely. At times she was talking about her own
beliefs, but at other times she was making
veiled digs at the Democrats, which sounded
like lines, written by an experienced
speechwriter, and so she entered, I believe,
the political realm, when she should have
stayed in the realm of her own beliefs and her
relationship to the Republican
nominee.
MSNBC-Will: The other big
speech of the night....
ASKMSNBC:
hootie-guest says: What influence will Colin
Powell have at the GOP
Convention?
Rich_Harwood: Colin Powell
can have a significant impact on this country.
Whether or not he gives the GOP a bump depends
more on George Bush at this point and what he
says than what Colin Powell did Monday night.
But I thought Colin Powell was
brilliant.
ASKMSNBC: maggi58 says: What
does our guest think about the total focus on
feel good issues. Is it that foreign policy and
national security have no sex appeal to
voters?
Rich_Harwood: I think Colin
Powell got the closest we'll see to someone
raising tough issues, and I think both parties
would be much better off if they followed his
lead on that, but for the most part, we are
going to be stuck with feel-good
issues.
ASKMSNBC: frisseehair-guest
says: I was wondering what the strategy was for
Bush to play gospel music and use rap dancers
yesterday. Do you think that he is too biased
religiously towards
Christianity?
Rich_Harwood: I think it
was a ploy to minorities, and I think Bush
needs to be careful about looking like he's
pandering, or being false about what he's up
to. I think it's enough to say what you
believe, to demonstrate it, and to let people
judge it for what it is.
ASKMSNBC:
doo-guest says: The Democrats keep bringing up
Vietnam and Cheney votes. Do you think this
will backfire?
Rich_Harwood: Yes.
Definitely. The candidate who wins this
election will be the one who puts forth
something constructive, no the candidate who
keeps trying to drive up the negatives of his
opponent.
ASKMSNBC: brian-guest says:
Rich, don't you feel the American people
deserve the right to hear from every candidate
who has a mathematical chance of winning the
election?
Rich_Harwood: I think the news
media should cover these other candidates, from
Ralph Nader to Pat Buchanan, because they are
raising issues that we need to deal with, and I
think it can only benefit the country to air
out those issues we need to
address.
ASKMSNBC: frisseehair-guest
says: Is it fair to say that Bush religious
beliefs are a bit too upfront? As a Jewish
person, do I really need gospel music during
the convention??
ASKMSNBC:
orionwest-guest says: Kansas Board of Education
has eliminated scientific theory in favor of
Creationism is this the idea of education
Republicans have for the rest of the
country
MSNBC-Will: Lots of religion
questions
Rich_Harwood: I think again,
the issue here is whether or not Bush's
religious beliefs inform his ability to lead
and govern, not whether someone can wear their
religion on their sleeve, and they need to walk
a very fine line on that. But I will say that
too often we try to strip our religious beliefs
out of our public thinking, and by doing so we
can strip away meaning about what we are up
to.
ASKMSNBC: Unknown-guest says: Do you
think that last night's program had "traction"
with the American People?
Rich_Harwood:
I think it could. I think the storyline of this
campaign will have to unfold for Americans
before they reach firm judgements about what
they think of either of these
men.
MSNBC-Will:
Rich_Harwood: I'm not sure. The
Electoral College plays an important role in
making sure the country balances out, and for
the most part, our voting and I think in almost
every campaign in the end reflected who
actually sat in the White
House.
ASKMSNBC: brian-guest says: Rich,
don't forget about Harry Browne of the
Libertarian party. After all, the Libertarian
Party is the third
largest.
Rich_Harwood: I said from Pat
Buchanan to Ralph Nader and I would say
everyone in between and beyond
them!
ASKMSNBC: doo-guest says: Do you
think that it is impossible for Bush and
Republicans to embrace minorities? And for them
to embrace the Republican party? Absolutely
not. I think the Democrats for a very long time
have taken the minority vote almost for
granted, and many people in this country, not
just minorities, are searching for a party they
believe in and can support, and that means
everybody.
ASKMSNBC: doo-guest says: Do
you believe that in order to combat Democrat
attack ads that the Republicans should do the
same?
Rich_Harwood: No. I think that the
Republicans, that both parties, should run ads
that contrast records, that put each other on
the spot, but this tit for tat will only make
people believe that all politicians are
worthless, someone needs to stand up and show
there is a difference.
ASKMSNBC:
mari_-guest says: How much effect do you think
the conventions will have on voters, in terms
of making up their minds?
Rich_Harwood:
More than people think. I think these
conventions will tell us a lot about both these
men, and their parties, and what they stand
for, especially when we gauge how they stick to
their beliefs over the course of the campaign.
I don't think the time has come to end
political conventions, I think we should be
paying attention to them.
ASKMSNBC:
Acorn-guest says: Do you think they should have
better music , then they did last
night?
MSNBC-Will: Do they usually have
this much music?
MSNBC-Will: Conventions
I mean
Rich_Harwood: I think
increasingly these are turning into
entertainment shows, which I think is a
mistake. Music can play an important role in
conveying someone's beliefs and aspirations and
it should be used in those ways, but to put on
a show, let's leave that to other television
programs. I think it's because those folks who
work in politics have so totally blurred the
line between reality and
fiction
MSNBC-Will: Are they making up
for an otherwise dull
season
Rich_Harwood: that they have lost
site of what is valuable and important, and
they should check themselves at the
door.
ASKMSNBC: UMCRevMom-guest says:
What do you think of Cspan.. keeping track of
time networks are spending on convention?
Koppel last nite criticized media for loosing
their role
Rich_Harwood: I don't know if
they need to keep track of the time that the
networks are spending, that seems to be a silly
gimmick, everyone knows how much time the
networks are spending on the convention. If
they believe time is a legitimate issue to
discuss so be it, but knock off the
gimmick.
ASKMSNBC: TN_Volunteer-guest
says: I think if the Convention continues as
last night Gore may be in
Trouble
Rich_Harwood: I happen to think
they are putting forth ideas that will be of
interest to folks, whether or not I personally
agree with them. I think the Democrats have to
start articulating their vision for this
country, and not just driving up Bush's
negatives.
ASKMSNBC: Yvonne-guest says:
don't trust him further than I can see him.All
the rest is spin!spin!spin.Gen.Colin Powell was
brave to tell theGOP exactly what is on his
mind.Is the GOP really as united as it is
pretending to be? We''
see.
Rich_Harwood: I agree, we'll see.
Colin Powell walked into the lion's den, and to
the extent that he could, put tough issues on
the table. We can only hope and pray that the
two nominees will have as much
courage.
ASKMSNBC: independent-guest
says: If Powell is the future of the GOP, then
the DEM monopoly on minority and women voters
will end, especiall hispanic and black voters
politics as we no it will change it would be a
DEmocratic nightmare?
Rich_Harwood: I
don't think Powell is the future of the GOP,
but more importantly, represents the future of
what this country could be. The Democrats and
Republicans should follow his
lead.
ASKMSNBC: farce-guest says: How
does gays in the military hurt our national
security as the GOP
states?
Rich_Harwood: I'm not sure. I
don't know if they truly believe what they are
saying, which I'd like to know more about if
that's the case, or if they are simply using
national security reasons to hide a certain
kind of bias against folks. It's not clear to
me. This issue is like some of the issues Colin
Powell raised last night. We can all disagree
on what needs to be done, but for God's sakes,
we ought to at least debate it in open, and put
forth the real reasons for what we believe what
we do.
ASKMSNBC: IvyLeaguer-guest says:
Why cant Cheney's deep ties to Reagan - Bush
covert activity be reported by the media at
large?
ASKMSNBC: UMCRevMom-guest says:
Cheney is a serious man with integrity... that
is enough for me :)
MSNBC-Will: Does one
answer the other?
Rich_Harwood: I think
what I'm hearing is that people feel both ways
about Dick Cheney simultaneously, and that
makes sense. They want to know what he did, and
why, but their sense of his integrity may
override things that he did at a different
point in time, it just goes to show how much
trust and character is one of the central
issues of this campaign, at least with Cheney
you probably get what you see.
ASKMSNBC:
frisseehair-guest says: Where has Gore gone
wrong that people are saying he has no chance?
Overall? What's your opinion, if you agree with
this?
Rich_Harwood: He still definitely
has a chance, it's way too early to write
anyone off, he is going wrong, I believe, in
that he is not following his heart or his
beliefs, but is casting everything he says in
cautious terms so not to make a mistake. He
ought to go back and read his book "Earth In
The Balance" and reground himself in his own
beliefs. And then let the chips fall where they
may.
ASKMSNBC: Jorge-guest says: Rich
why is clinton attacking Gw? GOP not attacking
Dems? Does Bill Clinton EGO make it impossible
for him to stay out of this? Rich_Harwood:
Quite possibly!
MSNBC-Will: does Clinton
have a responsibility to help Gore any way he
can?
Rich_Harwood: I don't think he
necessarily has a responsibility, they may
decide it's simply good politics, and if that's
the case, so be it.
MSNBC-Will: Ok.
Thank you very much Mr. Harwod for taking time
for us today. Any comments on what to look for
tonight?
Rich_Harwood: I'm hoping we'll
see tonight, John McCain put forth a point of
view that is clear, and not stated in
roundabout ways, so that it means something to
all people, but that he puts forth what he and
the nominee and the party believe, so that
Americans can make up their own minds. Let's
see what he does.
MSNBC-Will: Thanks
again Mr. Harwood for taking time with us.
We'll see you again tomorrow!
Thanks
very much guys for all the great questions
We'll have Mickey Kaus here in a little more
than an hour. followed by Andrea Mitchell and
John Hockenberry is sitting next to me pricing
GOP official merchandise he'll be taking
questions later for the webcast.