MSNBC "Decision '08" - Transcript
Interview
MR. MATTHEWS: Let's bring in the U.S. congresswoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, one of the strongest voices during the primaries for Hillary Clinton and now a person who could not be stronger for Barack Obama.
How did you do it --
REP. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Absolutely.
MR. MATTHEWS: -- Congresswoman? How did you make this transition?
REP. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Chris, I propelled myself through the five stages of grief and recognized that we need to make sure that we move this country in a new direction. And there was no question, the only way we could do that is if we elect Barack Obama president of the United States. So it was not a hard transition for me at all.
MR. MATTHEWS: Let me ask you about the rest of this week. How would you like it to go if it goes swimmingly for your party? What will it look like between now and Thursday night?
REP. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Well, what's going to happen between now and Thursday night is tomorrow we're going to celebrate the success of Hillary Clinton's candidacy, the historic accomplishment that she's made on Women's Equality Day, the anniversary of women's right to vote.
We're going to make sure that we show the American people the issues that the Democratic Party stands for, bringing our troops home from this misguided war in Iraq, focusing on alternative energy research so we can bring down gas prices, making sure we establish universal health care, and contrast that to John McCain, who offers just more of the same. We'll leave here on Thursday night after Barack Obama lays out his vision for the country, united behind him so we can elect him president of the United States on November 4th.
MR. OLBERMANN: Congresswoman, are you going to have that super- emotional sort of tying off of the whole process, as was reported tonight? The Associated Press says that the Obama camp and the Clinton camp have been in discussions and, in fact, reached a conclusion to have the roll call vote stopped at some point, possibly even by Senator Clinton herself, and then a declaration, a call for a unanimous vote for Senator Obama. Is that the big (soothing ?) moment at the end here?
REP. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: That's the culmination of what will be a celebration of the historic candidacies of both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. And on Wednesday night, when we go through the roll call, the beginning of the roll call for Hillary Clinton and then the full roll call for Barack Obama, we will leave this convention united so that we can help the American people understand that we need to move the country in a new direction and that John McCain is just offering us a third Bush presidency. And God forbid we go through another one of those.
MR. MATTHEWS: Is there going to be a formal nominating speech on Wednesday night where someone says, "And now I put in nomination the name of Hillary Rodham Clinton"? Will there be that dramatic moment, as there is for Barack?
REP. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: It's my understanding, Chris, that we will have nomination speeches for both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton so that we can talk about the strengths of this party, show our party's diversity, and be able to, like I said, celebrate the accomplishments of these historic candidacies and bring our party together, like this convention is intended to do, and show the American people the direction that we can move this country and demonstrate the path that we would take us down, as opposed to the status quo, which is all the Republicans are going to offer us.
MR. MATTHEWS: Can Joe Biden, with his long support for Israel his whole career, help Barack Obama overcome any hesitance among older voters in South Florida?
REP. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Absolutely. Joe Biden was just a tremendous pick. This is a one-two punch. And we have an opportunity, with his 36-year record in the Senate, Chris -- I have to tell you that, as someone who literally was a member of Students For Biden in college in 1988, all the way to now as a member of the House of Representatives, sponsoring legislation with Joe Biden to protect our children, this is just an exciting choice for women. Joe Biden was the sponsor of the Violence Against Women Act, stood up for the Family Medical Leave Act and helped to see it to become law.
He's been a stalwart on the issue of -- the important issues, important to the Jewish community, and a staunch ally of the state of Israel. The Jewish community really will embrace this candidacy, and this really establishes the confidence that we need.
MR. MATTHEWS: Well, I have to tell you, you're one of my favorite guests on "Hardball," and it's so great to see you at the convention --
REP. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Thank you.
MR. MATTHEWS: -- because you speak your mind, Congresswoman. Thank you very much, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida.
REP. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Thank you.
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