>>> THIS SUNDAY, AFTER THE
>>> THIS SUNDAY, AFTER THE
CONVENTIONS, A 65-DAY SPRINT.
REPUBLICANS ATTACKING JOE BIDEN.
>> HE IS THE DESTROYER OF
AMERICAS JOBS.
>> LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.
>> WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT
AGAIN, AGAIN.
>> REWRITING HISTORY.
>> FORTUNATELY, AS THE VIRUS
BEGAN TO SPREAD, THE PRESIDENT
ACTED QUICKLY.
>> AND TRYING TO MAKE THE
ELECTION A CHOICE, NOT A
REFERENDUM.
>> THIS ELECTION WILL DECIDE
WHETHER WE SAVE THE AMERICAN
DREAM OR WHETHER WE ALLOW A
SOCIALIST AGENDA TO DEMOLISH OUR
CHERISHED DESTINY.
>> MY GUESTS THIS MORNING, WHITE
HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF MARK
MEADOWS, AND THE CO-CHAIR OF THE
BIDEN CAMPAIGN, CONGRESSMAN
CEDRIC RICHMOND OF LOUISIANA.
PLUS, DEADLY SCENE IN PORTLAND.
PRO-TRUMP AND BLACK LIVES MATTER
PROTESTERS CLASH OVERNIGHT.
GUNFIRE ERUPTS DURING ONE
CONFRONTATION AND A MAN WAS
KILLED.
WELL HAVE THE LATEST.
>>> ALSO, THE POLICE SHOOTING IN
KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, OF JACOB
BLAKE.
>> THEY SHOT MY SON SEVEN TIMES.
>> LEADS TO VIOLENT STREET
SCENES AND THE FATAL SHOOTING OF
TWO PROTESTERS BY A TEENAGE
VIGILANTE.
NBA PLAYERS SPEAK UP.
>> ITS AMAZING WHY WE KEEP
LOVING THIS COUNTRY AND THIS
COUNTRY DOES NOT LOVE US BACK.
>> AND WALK OUT, SOON TO BE
JOINED BY PLAYERS IN OTHER MAJOR
SPORTS LEAGUES.
ILL TALK TO FORMER NBA PLAYER
ETAN THOMAS, AND SUE BIRD OF THE
WNBA.
JOINING ME FOR INSIGHT AND
ANALYSIS ARE NBC NEWS CHIEF
WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT,
HALLIE JACKSON.
"THE NEW YORK TIMES"
CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL SCHMIDT.
YAMICHE ALCINDOR, AND FORMER
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR OF NORTH
CAROLINA, PAT McCRORY.
WELCOME TO SUNDAY, ITS "MEET
THE PRESS."
>> Announcer: FROM NBC NEWS IN
WASHINGTON, THE LONGEST RUNNING
SHOW IN TELEVISION HISTORY, THIS
IS "MEET THE PRESS" WITH CHUCK
TODD.
>>> GOOD SUNDAY MORNING.
WERE GOING TO GET TO ALL THE
POLITICAL NEWS IN A MOMENT.
WERE GOING TO START WITH A
DEADLY CLASH IN PORTLAND,
OREGON.
PRO TRUMP AND COUNTERPROTESTERS
CLASHED OVERNIGHT.
FIST FIGHTS BROKE OUT AND AT ONE
POINT GUNFIRE BROKE OUT DURING A
CONFRONTATION AND A MAN WAS
KILLED.
JOINING ME NOW IS MIKE BAKER OF
"THE NEW YORK TIMES" WHO HAS
BEEN COVERING THESE EVENTS IN
PORTLAND.
MIKE, TELL US WHAT YOU SAW, WHAT
YOU WITNESSED, AND IF YOU CAN,
WHO SHOT THIS INDIVIDUAL?
>> YEAH, LAST NIGHT THERE WAS A
HUGE GATHERING OF TRUMP
SUPPORTERS OUT IN THE SUBURBS OF
PORTLAND.
THEY HAD THIS VOW THAT THEY WERE
GOING TO GO INTO PORTLAND WAVING
FLAGS AS SORT OF A CARAVAN.
INITIALLY THE PLAN WAS TO SORT
OF CIRCLE AROUND THE HIGHWAYS,
BUT SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THE
CARAVAN PEELED OFF AND WENT
RIGHT INTO DOWNTOWN WHERE THERE
WERE A WHOLE LARGE CROWD OF
COUNTERPROTESTERS THERE READY TO
CONFRONT THEM.
AND SO WE SAW FIST FIGHTS ON THE
STREETS IN SOME CASES.
PEOPLE IN THE BACKS OF PICKUP
TRUCKS SHOOTING PAINTBALLS INTO
THE CROWD.
OTHER PEOPLE THROWING THINGS
ONTO THE TRUCKS WHERE THE PRO
TRUMP SUPPORTERS WERE DRIVING
AROUND.
AND THEN EVENTUALLY THERE WAS A
SMALLER CONFLICT ON THE STREETS
WHERE SOMEONE WAS SHOT.
IT LOOKS RIGHT NOW LIKE THE
PERSON WHO WAS SHOT HAD A HAT
WITH THE INSIGNIA OF THE GROUP
PATRIOT PRAYER WHICH IS A
RIGHT-WING GROUP HERE IN THE
PORTLAND AREA.
>> MIKE, DO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF
WHERE THESE GUNSHOTS CAME FROM?
DID THEY COME FROM PROTESTERS?
WAS IT LAW ENFORCEMENT?
IS IT POSSIBLE IT WAS
ACCIDENTAL?
OR DO WE JUST NOT KNOW ANY
INFORMATION ON THIS?
>> I MEAN THERES SORT OF A
DISTANCED VIDEO OF THE SCENE
WHERE IT OCCURS ON A STREET.
IT LOOKS LIKE THERES SOME SORT
OF SMALL CROWD MILLING AROUND.
SO IT APPEARS TO BE SOME SORT OF
CONFLICT THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN A
COUPLE PEOPLE AND THATS WHEN
THE SHOT WAS FIRED, SHOTS WERE
FIRED.
>> OVERALL, WHAT HAS BEEN -- HOW
WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE SITUATION
OVER THE LAST MONTH IN PORTLAND?
>> YOU KNOW, ITS CHANGED A LOT.
YOU RECALL IN JULY WHEN THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAME IN WITH
THEIR FORCES AND WEARING
CAMOUFLAGE AND PULLING PEOPLE IN
UNMARKED VANS.
THAT BROUGHT OUT HUGE CROWDS,
MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE
COMING OUT AT THAT POINT.
SINCE THEN ITS REALLY COME DOWN
A LOT.
IVE BEEN HERE MOST OF THE WEEK
AND WITH A LOT OF THE PROTESTS
AT NIGHT.
ITS USUALLY BEEN A COUPLE
HUNDRED PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MUCH SMALLER
NUMBERS BUT THEYRE ALSO A CROWD
THATS BEEN STILL -- THE MORE
HARD CORE GROUP THATS OUT THERE
PROTESTING, DOING DIRECT ACTION
EVERY NIGHT.
THAT INCLUDES SPRAY PAINTING OR
LIGHTING A POLICE UNION BUILDING
ON FIRE.
AT THE TIME, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE
ITS SMALLER NUMBERS, THE POLICE
WOULD COME IN AND CLEAR THEM OUT
AND MAKE A WHOLE BUNCH OF
ARRESTS.
POLICE HAVE MADE DOZENS OF
ARRESTS THE PAST WEEK AND ITS
REALLY KIND OF KEPT THINGS INTO
A MUCH MORE CONTAINED -- MUCH
MORE CONTAINED WAY THAN IT WAS
COMPARED TO A MONTH AGO.
>> UNTIL WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED
LAST NIGHT ANYWAY.
MIKE BAKER FROM "THE NEW YORK
TIMES," REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
GETTING UP VERY EARLY FOR ME ON
THE WEST COAST AND GIVING US
YOUR EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT.
THANKS, MIKE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>>> WELL, THE EVENTS IN PORTLAND
CAME AT THE END OF A VOLATILE
WEEK IN THIS COUNTRY.
ONE THAT BEGAN WITH THE POLICE
SHOOTING OF JACOB BLAKE IN
KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, THE SHOOTING
DEATHS OF TWO PROTESTERS IN
KENOSHA BY A TEENAGE VIGILANTE
WHO CAME IN FROM OUT OF STATE
AND THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
CONVENTION.
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND OTHER
SPEAKERS PRESENTED A FAR
DIFFERENT PICTURE OF AMERICA
THAN DEMOCRATS DID A WEEK
EARLIER.
NOT ONE IN WHICH PRESIDENT TRUMP
WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MISHANDLING
THE CORONAVIRUS AND TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF UNNECESSARY DEATHS,
BUT INSTEAD ONE WHERE THE VIRUS
IS A THING OF THE PAST, THE
PRESIDENT HAVING SAVED MILLIONS
OF LIVES WITH A SWIFT RESPONSE,
AND THE VIOLENCE IN THE STREETS
A SIGN OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN A
JOE BIDEN PRESIDENCY.
JOINING ME NOW IS THE WHITE
HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF, MARK
MEADOWS.
MR. MEADOWS, WELCOME BACK TO
"MEET THE PRESS," SIR.
>> GOOD TO BE BACK WITH YOU.
THANKS, CHUCK.
>> I WANTED TO START WITH THIS.
THE PRESIDENT ON THURSDAY NIGHT
PAINTED A PICTURE OF WHAT HE
SAID WOULD BE JOE BIDENS
AMERICA.
AND I LOOK AT THE VIOLENCE THIS
WEEK, MR. MEADOWS.
THIS IS IN DONALD TRUMPS
AMERICA.
HOW MUCH RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD
VOTERS BE GIVING THE PRESIDENT
VOTERS BE GIVING THE PRESIDENT
FOR HIS INABILITY TO KEEP THE
STREETS SAFE?
>> WELL, I MEAN YOU CAN TRY TO
REFRAME IT THAT WAY, CHUCK, BUT
THATS JUST NOT ACCURATE.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHEN WE LOOK
AT KENOSHA AND THE PHONE CALLS
THAT WERE MADE TO THE GOVERNOR
OF WISCONSIN, WE OFFERED HELP.
HELP WAS DENIED.
OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS MULTIPLE
GUNSHOTS AND PEOPLE LOST THEIR
LIFE.
WE MADE A REPEATED CALL THEN THE
NEXT DAY, SENT IN NATIONAL
GUARD, FBI AGENTS, U.S. MARSHALS
TO RESTORE PEACE IN KENOSHA,
WISCONSIN.
AND THATS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN
IN PORTLAND.
YOU KNOW, ITS INTERESTING TO
SEE YOU FRAME PORTLAND THAT WAY
AFTER 94 DAYS.
PERHAPS NOW WERE GOING TO ACT
BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS SHOT LAST
NIGHT.
BUT TO SUGGEST THAT SOMEHOW ITS
BEEN PEACEFUL IN PORTLAND,
CHUCK, IS JUST NOT LOOKING AT
THE FACTS.
WEVE HAD OVER 200 ANARCHISTS,
AND THEYRE NOT PEACEFUL
PROTESTERS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT EVERY
SINGLE NIGHT CONDUCT VIOLENT
ACTS.
AND IT IS IN DEMOCRAT CITIES.
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT DONALD
TRUMPS AMERICA.
MOST OF DONALD TRUMPS AMERICA
IS PEACEFUL.
IT IS A DEMOCRAT-LED CITY IN
PORTLAND THAT WERE TALKING
ABOUT THIS MORNING WHO JUST
YESTERDAY DENIED HELP ONCE AGAIN
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND SO, LISTEN, WE NEED TO GET
TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
ULTIMATELY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE
CONDUCTING THESE ACTS GO TO
JAIL.
WEVE HAD OVER 97 FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT ARRESTS THAT WERE
CONDUCTED IN PORTLAND, BUT
LARGELY THE D.A. THERE IN
PORTLAND, CHUCK, YOU KNOW, HE
SAYS EVEN IF YOU ACOST A POLICE
OFFICER, WERE NOT GOING TO
ENFORCE THAT.
ITS JUST NOT WHAT MOST
AMERICANS BELIEVE SHOULD BE
HAPPENING IN OUR CITIES.
>> YOU MADE AN INTERESTING
COMPARISON.
I GUESS YOURE SAYING THAT IS
THERE PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT
THE PRESIDENT DOESNT GOVERN?
IS THE PRESIDENT ONLY IN CHARGE
OF PLACES WHERE HE HAS
SUPPORTERS?
YOU SORT OF -- YOURE SAYING,
WELL, THESE ARE ALL DEMOCRATIC
CITIES.
I JUST WANT TO -- IM JUST
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND DOES THE
PRESIDENT NOT BELIEVE HE HAS
RESPONSIBILITY OF GOVERNING AND
LEADING THE ENTIRE COUNTRY?
>> WELL, HE DOES GOVERN AND LEAD
THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
BUT, CHUCK, YOURE SMARTER THAN
THAT.
THESE ARE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
EFFORTS THAT ARE -- THAT CAN BE
SUPPORTED BY A FEDERAL BACKSTOP,
WHETHER IT BE NATIONAL GUARD OR
THE FBI.
AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT, AS
WE LOOK IN PORTLAND, ITS NOT
DONALD TRUMPS D.A. THATS
SAYING TO STAND DOWN.
ITS NOT DONALD TRUMP THAT IS
SAYING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK THE
OTHER WAY, ITS THE MAYOR OF
PORTLAND.
SO LETS AT LEAST HAVE A TRUE
VERSION OF WHATS HAPPENING IN
THESE CITIES.
IF YOUR VIEWERS ARE GOING TO
TUNE IN THIS MORNING, WHY DONT
YOU SHOW THEM THE LETTER FROM
THE MAYOR OF PORTLAND WHERE HE
SAYS, NO THANKS FOR FEDERAL
HELP, AND YET WE HAVE SOMEONE
WHO LOST THEIR LIFE OVERNIGHT.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ARE
READY.
IN FACT THE PRESIDENT IS READY
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE
WHATEVER LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT
THAT WE CAN.
AND ITS NOT THIS PRESIDENT WHO
HAS SAID LETS DEFUND THE
POLICE, CHUCK.
>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
IF THE PRESIDENT IS CHEERING ON
PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO GO INTO
PORTLAND, THOSE PROTESTERS, THE
PRESIDENT CALLED THEM GREAT
PATRIOTS.
DO YOU THINK THE PRESIDENT
SHOULD BE TELLING HIS SUPPORTERS
DE-ESCALATE, DONT SHOW UP WITH
LONG GUNS, DONT PLAY VIGILANTE?
WE HAVENT HEARD THE PRESIDENT
TRY TO -- HE ONLY WANTS TO
DE-ESCALATE THE PROTESTS HE
DOESNT LIKE.
HE HAS NOT TALKED ABOUT
DE-ESCALATING THE PROTESTS THAT
SUPPORT HIM THAT ARE SHOWING UP
WITH LONG GUNS AND CERTAINLY
TRYING TO AT LEAST GIVE A VISUAL
INCENTIVE TO CREATE A CONFLICT.
>> LISTEN, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
CONSTITUTION, THE CONSTITUTION
IS VERY CLEAR.
IT GIVES THE RIGHT TO PEACEFULLY
PROTEST.
IT ALSO GIVES THE RIGHT TO --
FOR ASSEMBLY.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT AND WE
SOMEHOW SUGGEST THAT IN SOME
CITIES THAT THESE PARTICULAR
AREAS ARE OFF LIMITS, ITS NOT
WHO WE ARE AS A NATION.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT
HAPPENED IN WASHINGTON, D.C.,
THE LARGELY PEACEFUL PROTESTS
THAT HAPPENED ON THE MALL WERE
CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING THAT
ANYONE CONDEMNED.
AND YET WHAT WE SAW WERE SOME OF
THE SPLINTERS THAT CAME OFF OF
THAT THAT WERE RUNNING AROUND IN
THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON, D.C.,
A
ACCOSTING SENATOR RAND PAUL THAT
YOU KNOW ABOUT BUT THAT IS NOT
WHAT THE CONSTITUTION PROTECTS
AND NOT WHAT WE SHOULD BE
ENDORSING, WHETHER YOURE A
DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN,
UNAFFILIATED OR IN BETWEEN.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
PROPER --
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> WE PROPERLY ADDRESS THAT,
CHUCK.
>> RIGHT.
BUT THIS YOUNG MAN THAT TOOK
MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS.
THE PRESIDENT HAS YET TO CONDEMN
THESE ACTIONS.
WHY?
>> WELL, YOU JUST HAD THE REPORT
THERE, CHUCK.
YOURE TALKING ABOUT THE YOUNG
MAN LAST NIGHT IN PORTLAND WHO
WAS SHOT?
>> NO, THE MAN WHO SHOT
PROTESTERS IN KENOSHA.
IM TALKING ABOUT KENOSHA.
>> THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN VERY
CLEAR.
THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN VERY
CLEAR.
WHETHER IT WAS WITH THAT
INDIVIDUAL OR MR. BLAKE OR
ANYWHERE ELSE, HE HAS ASKED FOR
PROPER INVESTIGATION.
IN FACT, I WAS IN THE OVAL
OFFICE WHEN HE BROUGHT THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL IN AND 9:30 IN
THE MORNING WHEN MR. BLAKE WAS
SHOT JUST THE PREVIOUS EVENING.
WHEN HE LOOKED AT THAT, HE SAYS
WHAT I WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE
THAT THERES A PROPER
INVESTIGATION.
THATS WHY WE HAVE LAWS AND
THATS WHY WE HAVE A JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
AND LADY JUSTICE HAS A BLINDFOLD
ON THAT SHOULD LOOK AT ALL OF
THESE THINGS IN A WAY THAT MAKES
SURE THAT JUSTICE IS BROUGHT
FORWARD.
BUT FOR YOU TO TRY IT OUT ON A
SUNDAY MORNING SHOW OR FOR ME TO
DO THAT ON A SUNDAY MORNING SHOW
IS NOT WHAT OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM
IS SET UP TO DO.
WHAT WE ALWAYS MUST DO IS MAKE
SURE THAT THE RULE OF LAW IS
THERE, NOT JUST BECAUSE ITS A
RULE OF LAW, BUT BECAUSE IT
CREATES A SAFER COMMUNITY,
WHETHER ITS IN KENOSHA,
WISCONSIN, OR ANYWHERE ELSE.
>> RIGHT.
IM JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
THE PRESIDENT DENOUNCED THE
VIOLENCE ON ONE SIDE OF
PROTESTERS HE DIDNT LIKE.
BUT WHY NOT DENOUNCE WHAT THIS
YOUNG MAN DID?
WHY NOT SAY, PLEASE, DONT TAKE
MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN HANDS?
THE PRESIDENT HAS NOT SAID THAT.
ONE OF HIS CHIEF SUPPORTERS IN
THE MEDIA HAS ACTUALLY DEFENDED
THIS.
ISNT IT INCUMBENT ON THE
PRESIDENT TO HELP DE-ESCALATE
SOME OF THIS VIOLENCE ON HIS
SIDE AS WELL?
>> AND THE PRESIDENT -- YOU SAY
ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.
LET ME TELL YOU WHERE THE
PRESIDENT IS.
THE PRESIDENT IS ON THE SIDE OF
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE RULE OF
LAW.
HES BEEN VERY CONSISTENT IN
THAT.
HE SAID ANY GOVERNOR, REPUBLICAN
OR DEMOCRAT, ANY PARTICULAR AREA
CAN REQUEST HELP OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
WERE WILLING TO COME IN.
WERE WILLING TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL ASSETS AS WE DID IN
KENOSHA, WHETHER ITS FBI,
WHETHER ITS OPERATIONAL
CONTROLLED VEHICLES, WHETHER IT
IS THE NATIONAL GUARD.
WERE WILLING TO DO THAT.
HES BEEN VERY CONSISTENT.
SO THE MESSAGE TO YOUR VIEWERS
THIS MORNING IS CLEAR.
THE PRESIDENT BELIEVES WHAT WE
NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE EXACTLY WHAT RESOURCES ARE
AVAILABLE FOR EVERY SINGLE CITY.
IF YOURE HAVING A PROBLEM,
GOVERNORS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE CAN HAVEELP YOU WITH THA
>> LET ME ASK YOU, IM RUNNING
LOW ON TIME.
I KNOW THAT PERHAPS YOU AND
SPEAKER PELOSI MAY BE TALKING
TODAY.
THE DEMOCRATS BELIEVE THEY HAVE
COME DOWN AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO
MEET YOU HALFWAY.
THEY BELIEVE HALFWAY SHOULD BE
$2.2 TRILLION, MAYBE $2
TRILLION.
ARE YOU WILLING TO BRING UP THE
NUMBER THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL
SUPPORT?
>> WELL, WE BROUGHT UP THE
NUMBER.
I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH
SPEAKER PELOSI.
AND EVEN ON HER $2.2 TRILLION
COUNTEROFFER SHE CANT TELL THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE NOR ME WHAT IS
IN THAT.
I CAN TELL YOU WHAT IS IN THE
OFFER THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS
MADE AND HES WILLING TO SIGN.
ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT AT LEVELS
SHE WOULD AGREE WITH.
ENHANGSCED HELP FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT SHE WOULD AGREE
WITH.
LITERALLY HELP FOR DAY CARE AND
HOSPITALS AT LEVELS SHE WOULD
AGREE WITH.
AND HELP FOR SCHOOLS AT LEVELS
SHE WOULD AGREE WITH.
HERES THE PROBLEM IS SHE PUTS
FORTH A NUMBER, SUGGESTS THAT
SHE CAME DOWN, AND YET SHES
WILLING TO TURN DOWN $1.3
TRILLION OF HELP THAT GOES TO
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BECAUSE SHE
WOULD RATHER THEM HAVE NOTHING
THAN TO GIVE WAY ON WHAT HER
FANTASY MIGHT BE.
>> MR. MEADOWS, WHAT YOURE
SUGGESTING CANT PASS THE
SENATE, RIGHT?
>> NO, IT CAN PASS THE SENATE.
I MEAN THAT WOULD REQUIRE
SENATOR SCHUMER, AS YOU KNOW,
ANYTHING IN THE SENATE REQUIRES
BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.
BUT SPEAKER PELOSI, IF SHE
WORKED WITH CHUCK SCHUMER, I CAN
TELL YOU ALL OF THOSE THINGS
THAT I JUST MENTIONED ARE
AVAILABLE FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE AND THE SPEAKER PELOSI IS
SAYING NO.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO BRING YOUR
NUMBER UP OR IS $1.3 YOUR FINAL
OFFER?
>> LISTEN, WERE NOT GOING TO
NEGOTIATE HERE BECAUSE THE
SPEAKER HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR.
WHEN SHE SAID $2.2, SHE SAID
DONT DO ANYTHING AT ALL, CHUCK.
I SAID WHAT DOES THE $2.2
REPRESENT?
YOU KNOW WHAT HER RESPONSE WAS?
IM NOT GOING TO TELL YOU, LET
ME FILL IN THE BLANKS.
THATS NOT A PROPER NEGOTIATION,
NOR IS IT ANYTHING THAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE ACCEPT.
IN FACT, MANY OF HER RANK AND
FILE MEMBERS DONT EVEN ACCEPT
IT.
>> MARK MEADOWS, THE CHIEF OF
STAFF FOR THE PRESIDENT, I
APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON,
SHARING THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE
WHITE HOUSE.
THANK YOU, SIR.
>> THANK YOU, CHUCK.
>>> JOINING ME NOW IS THE
NATIONAL CO-CHAIR OF JOE BIDENS
CAMPAIGN.
ITS CONGRESSMAN CEDRIC RICHMOND
OF LOUISIANA.
CONGRESSMAN RICHMOND, WELCOME
BACK TO "MEET THE PRESS."
I WANT TO START WITH A COLUMN
FROM GEORGE PACKER WHO WRITES
THE FOLLOWING AND SAYS THIS.
ORDINARILY ITS THE INCUMBENT
PRESIDENTS JOB TO SHOW UP AT
THE SCENE OF A NATIONAL TRAGEDY
AND GIVE A UNIFYING SPEECH BUT
TRUMP IS TEMPERAMENTALLY
INCAPABLE OF DOING SO.
BIDEN THEN SHOULD IMMEDIATELY GO
TO WISCONSIN.
CEDRIC RICHMOND, IS JOE BIDEN
GOING TO BE GOING TO WISCONSIN
TOMORROW?
>> I DONT KNOW THE ANSWER TO
THAT.
BUT ALSO I THINK THAT VICE
PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS A
RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT MAKE
THINGS WORSE, TO MAKE SURE THAT
THINGS WORSE, TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE POLICEA
ACCOMMODATE HIS VISIT AND I
THINK HE IS WEIGHING ALL OF
THOSE THINGS RIGHT NOW.
>> GIVEN WHAT WE SAW OVERNIGHT
IN PORTLAND, GIVEN WHAT WEVE
SEEN TAKE PLACE ALL WEEK IN
KENOSHA, WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS
ABOUT WHERE THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN
IS RIGHT NOW ON THIS ISSUE IN
PARTICULAR?
>> WELL, I DONT HAVE A CONCERN
WHERE WE ARE ON THIS ISSUE.
I MEAN WE HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR
THAT POLICE REFORM IN THIS
COUNTRY IS A NECESSITY AND THAT
UNARMED BLACK PEOPLE BEING
KILLED BY THE POLICE SHOULD BE
LOW-HANGING FRUIT.
IF WE COULD JUST GET PRESIDENT
TRUMP TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND TO
PUSH FOR REAL POLICE REFORM,
THEN LETS ADDRESS THE ISSUE WHY
NBA PLAYERS DID NOT PLAY IN
BASKETBALL GAMES.
THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE WAKING
UP AND SPEAKING OUT ON JACOB
BLAKES DEATH.
I MEAN THATS THE ISSUE.
AND I THINK THAT WITHOUT A PLAN
FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO ADDRESS
IT, ITS JUST REALLY SWEEPING IT
UNDER THE RUG AND YOU HEAR THE
RHETORICAL GYMNASTICS FROM HIS
CHIEF OF STAFF THAT WAS JUST
HERE.
VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS BEEN
VERY CLEAR.
HE PUT OUT A PLAN ON POLICE
REFORM.
AND I THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE
THE SUBJECT WERE TALKING ABOUT.
>> WHEN IT COMES TO THE VIOLENCE
IN THE STREETS NOW, WHO SHOULD
BE HELD RESPONSIBLE?
>> THOSE PERPETRATING THE
VIOLENCE.
LOOK, VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS
BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT PEACEFUL
PROTESTS ARE THE BEDROCK OF OUR
DEMOCRACY.
BUT WHAT I DONT WANT TO DO,
CHUCK, IS TO EVER CONFUSE OR
COMPARE PEACEFUL PROTESTERS WITH
THOSE COMMITTING CRIMES.
THOSE ARE NOT PEACEFUL
PROTESTERS.
PEACEFUL PROTESTERS ARE OUT
THERE TRYING TO MAKE THIS
COUNTRY A MORE PERFECT UNION,
TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR
BLACK AND BROWN DAUGHTERS AND
SONS ARE SAFE AND SURVIVE POLICE
ENCOUNTERS.
THOSE THAT ARE OUT THERE
COMMITTING CRIMES ARE NOT A PART
OF THOSE PEACEFUL PROTESTS AND
THEY SHOULD NOT BE LABELED THAT
WAY.
AND I THINK THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT
HAS TO DEAL WITH IT.
BUT WHAT WAS VERY INTERESTING
JUST NOW, WHEN YOU TALK TO THE
CHIEF OF STAFF MEADOWS, HE SAID
THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ON THE
SIDE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WELL, THE QUESTION BECOMES,
WELL, WHOS ON THE SIDE OF
JUSTICE?
WHOS ON THE SIDE OF
CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING?
ITS NOT ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT
OR PROTESTERS, ITS ABOUT MAKING
SURE THAT POLICE ARE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY VIOLATE
PEOPLES CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
WHEN THEY SHOOT UNARMED BLACK
PEOPLE.
AND IF THE PRESIDENT CAN CONVENE
THAT CONVERSATION, THEN I THINK
THAT WE WOULD BE IN A BETTER
SPACE.
AND SO HE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT
WHAT BIDENS AMERICA WOULD LOOK
LIKE.
WELL, THIS IS TRUMPS AMERICA.
HE HAS TO OWN THIS MOMENT.
HE HAS TO OWN THE INCOMPETENCE
AROUND CORONAVIRUS AND 180,000
AMERICAN DEATHS, ALMOST 6
MILLION INFECTIONS, ALMOST 38
MILLION JOBLESS CLAIMS.
HE HAS TO OWN IT.
THIS IS HIS AMERICA.
SO HOW DO YOU BREAK THIS COUNTRY
AND THEN RUN FOR RE-ELECTION
SAYING I WANT TO FIX EVERYTHING
THAT I JUST DESTROYED.
AND SO THAT WILL BE THE MESSAGE
OF THE CAMPAIGN AND WERE GOING
TO HAVE TO MAKE THAT CASE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK
AMERICA IS IN A REAL FRAGILE
POINT.
I THINK THAT YOU WILL HEAR JOE
BIDEN SPEAK, YOU WILL HEAR HIM
TRY TO HEAL THIS COUNTRY,
BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT JUST
DOESNT HAVE IT IN HIM.
>> IM CURIOUS WHAT YOU MADE
LAST WEEK OF ALL THE
TESTIMONIALS FROM BLACK MEN AT
THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
CONVENTION AND HOW MUCH OF AN
IMPACT DO YOU THINK IT MIGHT
HAVE?
I WANT TO SHOW THIS CHART OF THE
PRESIDENTIAL VOTE AMONG BLACK
MEN GOING BACK TO 2008.
AND THERE HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT
EROSION OF SUPPORT FOR THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY FROM BLACK MEN.
A HIGH OF 95% IN 2008.
JUST 80% OF THE VOTE IN 2016.
THERE CLEARLY WAS A CONCERTED
EFFORT BY THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN TO
TRY TO APPEAL TO BLACK MEN.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE EFFORT,
AND WHAT SHOULD THE BIDEN
CAMPAIGN DO TO COUNTER IT?
>> WELL, ILL TELL YOU THIS.
DONALD TRUMP VERY EFFECTIVELY IN
2016 RAISED THE QUESTION TO
BLACK MEN, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO
LOSE?
I THINK NOW BLACK MEN SEE
CLEARLY WHAT THEY HAVE TO LOSE.
THEY CAN GET KILLED AND THE
PRESIDENT WONT SAY A WORD,
WONT UTTER JACOB BLAKES NAME,
WILL NOT TALK ABOUT POLICE
REFORM.
IF YOU LOOK AT UNEMPLOYMENT,
BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT IS TWICE THAT
OF WHITE UNEMPLOYMENT.
THE FACT THAT ALMOST 40% OF
BLACK BUSINESSES WILL NOT
SURVIVE HIS COVID-19 INCOMPETENT
RESPONSE, BLACK MEN SEE THAT.
AND SO YOU WILL SEE US AS A
CAMPAIGN TALK DIRECTLY TO BLACK
MEN.
WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS.
WE WILL NOT TAKE THEM FOR
GRANTED.
WERE GOING TO TALK DIRECTLY TO
THEM.
SO WHETHER ITS ABOUT MASS
INCARCERATION, ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY, HOMEOWNERSHIP,
COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY,
INCREASING EDUCATION FUNDING,
ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
SO WERE GOING TO GO WHERE BLACK
MEN ARE AND TALK TO BLACK MEN
ABOUT THEIR ISSUES.
BUT I THINK THEY SEE CLEARLY
WHAT IT IS THEY HAVE TO LOSE
NOW.
>> I WANT TO MOVE ON TO THE
ECONOMY A BIT.
THE LAST TIME YOU AND I SPOKE WE
TALKED ABOUT -- YOU TOLD ME YOU
THOUGHT THE DEMOCRATS HADNT
DONE A GOOD ENOUGH JOB REMINDING
PEOPLE WHERE THE ECONOMY WAS IN
2016, REMINDING PEOPLE OF THE
ECONOMY THAT DONALD TRUMPIN
HAIRED. --
INHERITED.
YOU SAW WHAT THE RNC IS PUSHING
IN REGARD TO THE ECONOMY.
DO YOU THINK DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE
ANY BETTER OF A JOB SINCE WE
LAST TALKED ABOUT REFRAMING
WHERE THE ECONOMY WAS IN 2016?
>> WELL, I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF
THAT HAS HAPPENED.
I THINK A LOT MORE HAS TO HAPPEN
AFTER LABOR DAY.
WE HAVE TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO
PEOPLE THAT THIS PRESIDENT HAS
THE WORST JOB CREATION RECORD
UNDER ANY PRESIDENT IN THE
UNITED STATES HISTORY.
HES LOST 6 MILLION JOBS.
THE OBAMA/BIDEN ERA CREATED 16
MILLION JOBS COMING OUT OF THE
GREAT RECESSION.
THIS PRESIDENT JUST DOES NOT
HAVE AN ECONOMIC PLAN, AND I
THINK DEMOCRATS HAVE TO HONE IN
ON THAT.
THE ONE THING TRUMP DOES VERY
WELL IS SAYS THE SAME THING OVER
AND OVER AGAIN.
MOST OF THE TIME ITS A LIE, BUT
HE SAYS IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN
AND PEOPLE START TO BELIEVE IT.
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO SAY OVER
AND OVER AGAIN THAT THIS
PRESIDENT HAS DESTROYED AND
WRECKED THIS ECONOMY JUST LIKE
EVERYTHING HE HAS EVER TOUCHED
IN HIS LIFE.
AND SO WE NEED TO POINT OUT THAT
THERE ARE FARMERS THAT ARE
FILING BANKRUPTCY AT ALL-TIME
HIGHS, THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT
NUMBERS ARE WHERE THEY ARE,
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE CLOSING
THEIR DOORS EVERY DAY.
AND SO, YEAH, ITS INCUMBENT
UPON US TO KEEP REMINDING PEOPLE
OF THAT.
>> CONGRESSMAN CEDRIC RICHMOND,
THE NATIONAL CO-CHAIR FOR THE
BIDEN CAMPAIGN, THANK YOU FOR
COMING ON AND SHARING THE
CAMPAIGNS PERSPECTIVE.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>>> WHEN WE COME BACK, THE
EVENTS LAST WEEK IN KENOSHA,
WISCONSIN, A POLICE SHOOTING,
VIGILANTE VIOLENC, AND PROE
>>> WELCOME BACK.
>>> WELCOME BACK.
THE NBA WAS BACK IN ACTION LAST
NIGHT WITH A SLATE OF PLAYOFF
GAMES, INCLUDING THE MILWAUKEE
BUCKS VERSUS THE ORLANDO MAGIC.
THOSE TWO TEAMS WERE SUPPOSED TO
PLAY WEDNESDAY WHEN THE BUCKS
WALKED OUT TO PROTEST THE POLICE
SHOOTING OF JACOB BLAKE IN
KENOSHA, WISCONSIN.
THE WALKOUT BY THOSE NBA PLAYERS
LED TO SIMILAR ACTIONS BY
ATHLETES IN OTHER SPORTS
LEAGUES, PROFESSIONAL AND
COLLEGE, INCLUDING THOSE NOT
DOMINATED BY AFRICAN-AMERICAN
PLAYERS.
IT WAS THE MOST STRIKING EXAMPLE
OF PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES
DEMONSTRATING A WILLINGNESS TO
USE THEIR CELEBRITY AND ECONOMIC
POWER TO LEVERAGE SOCIAL CHANGE.
JOINING ME NOW ARE FORMER NBA
PLAYER ETAN THOMAS AND CURRENT
WNBA ALL-STAR SUE BIRD WHOS THE
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE WOMENS
NATIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYERS
ASSOCIATION.
ETAN AND SUE, WELCOME TO BOTH OF
YOU TO "MEET THE PRESS."
ETAN, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.
THIS WEEK WE SAW THIS GROUND
SWELL, SOME CALL IT A BOYCOTT, A
WILDCAT STRIKE, IF YOU WILL.
THE NUMBER OF TEAMS THAT
PARTICIPATED, I WANT TO PUT UP
ON SCREEN, NINE PLAYOFF GAMES,
11 BASEBALL GAMES POSTPONED, SIX
WNBA GAMES, FOUR NHL PLAYOFF
GAMES, THE MLS, THE NFL, EVEN
COLLEGE PRACTICES.
WHAT MADE THIS DIFFERENT, ETAN?
WHAT DO YOU THINK MADE IT WHERE
THE SPORTS WORLD UNITED?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANKS
FOR HAVING ME ON TODAY.
ITS INTERESTING, BECAUSE, YOU
KNOW, NOW AFTER EVERYTHING HAS
HAPPENED, YOURE SEEING A LOT OF
PEOPLE CRITICIZING THE NBA
PLAYERS FOR VOTING TO GO BACK TO
PLAYING AFTER THEIR TWO-DAY
STRIKE OR BOYCOTT, LIKE YOU
SAID, OR WHOVRHOWEVER YOU WANT T
CALL IT.
I THINK THATS RIDICULOUS.
THEY HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND
THE CALL OF DUTY, BOTH THE NBA,
WNBA AND WITH THE MLB STANDING
IN SOLIDARITY.
THEY MADE THEIR POWERFUL
STATEMENT HEARD REALLY AROUND
THE WORLD.
YOU KNOW, THEY DID IT
ALTOGETHER.
AND THEN THEY FORMULATED THE
SOCIAL CHANGE FUND AND THEYRE
GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON
ADVOCATING FOR POLICE REFORM AND
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND VOTING
INITIATIVES AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
REFORM AND A LOT OF GREAT
THINGS.
SO THEYRE DOING THEIR PART.
BUT ITS ALSO NOT THE JOB OF
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES TO SOLVE
THE POLICING PROBLEM THAT WE
HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY.
THAT SHOULD BE THE FOCUS OF ALL
THE PEOPLE THAT WE JUST SAW AT
THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION THIS
PAST WEEK.
I WOULD SAY INSTEAD OF DONALD
TRUMP SCREAMING LAW AND ORDER AT
THE AMERICAN CITIZENS EXERCISING
THEIR RIGHT TO PROTEST, THAT HE
SHOULD BE SCREAMING POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT I BET WE
PROBABLY WONT HEAR THAT.
>> SUE BIRD, A BOYCOTT TAKES
MONEY OUT OF THE HANDS OF
OWNERS, TAKES MONEY OUT OF THE
HANDS OF SPONSORS, TAKES MONEY
OUT OF THE HANDS OF LEAGUES, AND
I ASSUME THAT THERE IS AN
INTENTION THERE THAT, OKAY, WE
WANT YOU TO BE PAYING ATTENTION.
WHAT ROLE DO YOU WANT TO SEE
OWNERS AND SPONSORS OF SPORTS
LEAGUES PLAY?
BECAUSE YOURE SENDING A MESSAGE
TO THEM TOO.
>> RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THE WNBA IS
IN A UNIQUE POSITION IN THAT WE
HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM OUR
OWNERS.
IN FACT I KNOW MYSELF, A BUNCH
OF OTHER PLAYERS FROM OTHER
TEAMS GOT CALLS DIRECTLY FROM
THEIR OWNERS SAYING WE SUPPORT
WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.
SO I THINK A LOT OF IT IS MORE
SO ABOUT, LIKE YOU SAID, THE
CORPORATE SPONSORS, TRYING TO
GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE
STAND, WHAT WE BELIEVE IN, WHAT
WERE FIGHTING FOR.
BUT THIS ISNT NEW FOR US.
WEVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS
AND YEARS AND YEARS.
I THINK WHAT WAS SO SPECIAL
ABOUT THIS MOMENT WAS AN
OPPORTUNITY, LIKE ETAN SAID, FOR
ALL OF THESE LEAGUES TO BE
UNIFIED.
AND THATS WHEN, YOU KNOW, WEVE
LEARNED IN THE WNBA WHEN WERE
UNIFIED AS ONE VOICE, THATS
WHERE THE IMPACT IS F ELTELT FOR
SO TO HAVE ALL THESE LEAGUES
TOGETHER, YOUVE SEEN WHATS
HAPPENED.
LIKE ETAN SAID, ITS BEEN SEEN
AROUND THE WORLD.
>> ETAN, YOU PROBABLY DISCOVERED
THIS AS AN ACTIVE PLAYER.
SPEAKING OUT IN THE NBA AS
INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS WAS A BIT
MORE COMMON.
YOU DIDNT SEE IT A LOT IN THE
NHL AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.
I JUST WONDER HOW IMPORTANT DO
YOU THINK THAT HERES TWO SPORTS
THAT ARE WHITER AND CERTAINLY
THEIR FAN BASES ARE VERY WHITE.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THE
SPORTS WORLD UNITED ACROSS
RACIAL LINES.
>> ITS DEFINITELY IMPORTANT,
ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIMES.
RIGHT NOW WHEN YOU SEE FROM THE
RIGHT THAT THERES SO MUCH
DIVISIVE TYPE OF A TONE.
I MEAN JUST LOOKING AT THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION,
YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS
DIVISIVE.
AND SO SPORTS HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO BRING
PEOPLE TOGETHER.
AND SO ITS A MATTER OF EMPATHY.
SO SOME OF THESE SPORTS THAT AS
YOU SAY ARE WHITER, THEY MIGHT
NOT BE DEALING WITH THE SAME
THINGS THAT IM DEALING WITH AS
A BLACK MAN IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND,
YOU KNOW, EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT
SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS, THE
CONVERSATION THAT HAPPENS IN
BLACK HOMES.
YOU KNOW, MY SON, MALCOLM, JUST
TURNED 15 YEARS OLD.
IM TERRIFIED FOR HIM.
LIKE LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE TIME
SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS, I
CANT SLEEP AT NIGHT.
I HAVE TO GO AND TELL HIM AGAIN,
YOU KNOW, THE RULES OF
ENGAGEMENT.
WHEN YOURE STOPPED BY THE
POLICE, MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE
NO SUDDEN MOVEMENTS, YOU HAVE TO
DE-ESCALATE A SITUATION THAT YOU
DIDNT ESCALATE IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
THE ONLY REASON WHY ITS
ESCALATED IS BECAUSE OF THE
COLOR OF YOUR SKIN.
SO YOU CANT DO WHAT YOU SEE
YOUR WHITE FRIENDS DOING BECAUSE
THEY CAN COME DOWN TO THE
POLICE, GO OFF, WHATEVER THEY
WANT TO DO.
THEY CAN NOT COMPLY, EVERYTHING
LIKE THAT, AND THEY WILL GET TO
LIVE.
AND THATS A TOUGH SITUATION TO
BE IN.
SO WHEN YOURE HEARING
ATHLETES -- A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
SAYING WHY IS LeBRON FEELING SO
EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS.
BECAUSE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE
MAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
THE NBA DOESNT SAVE YOU FROM
BEING BLACK.
THATS THE DIFFERENCE.
SO WHEN THE POLICE PULL ME OVER,
I HAVE TO FOLLOW A SET OF
GUIDELINES.
IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT IVE
ACCOMPLISHED IN LIFE OR WHO I AM
OR WHAT TAX BRACKET IM IN OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IM A BLACK MAN AND IM A
THREAT.
>> SUE BIRD, VERY QUICKLY, WE
HEARD SOME POLITICIANS DONT
LIKE IT WHEN THE SPORTS WORLD
SPEAKS OUT ON SOCIAL ISSUES.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE
CRITICS?
>> I MEAN FOR ME AS A FEMALE
ATHLETE, THE ONE THING THAT IVE
COME TO REALIZE IS WERE JUDGED
ON EVERYTHING EXCEPT OUR SPORT.
WEVE BEEN JUDGED BECAUSE WERE
BLACK, GAY, BECAUSE WERE WOMEN.
NOBODY TALKS ABOUT US PLAYING.
SO YOU FAST FORWARD 10, 20 YEARS
OF THIS, AND WEVE DEVELOPED AN
IDENTITY.
WERE BEING AUTHENTIC TO IT.
SO FOR US WHEN PEOPLE SAY STICK
TO SPORTS, ITS KIND OF LIKE,
YEAH, 20 YEARS AGO WE TRIED AND
YOU WOULDNT LET US AND NOW
YOURE SAYING THAT?
SO IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.
>> SUE BIRD, ETAN THOMAS, I
REALLY APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU
COMING ON AND EXPRESSING YOUR
PERSPECTIVES ON THIS.
ITS A CONVERSATION THAT I HOPE
CONTINUES.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> WHEN WE COME BACK, TWO
CONVENTIONS DOWN, TWO COMPETING
>>> WELCOME BACK.
>>> WELCOME BACK.
THE PANEL IS JOINING US.
NBC NEWS WHITE HOUSE
CORRESPONDENT HALLIE JACKSON,
"THE NEW YORK TIMES"
CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL SCHMIDT.
YAMICHE ALCINDOR, WHITE HOUSE
CORRESPONDENT FOR PBS NEWS HOUR
AND FORMER REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR
OF NORTH CAROLINA AND RADIO
HOST, PAT McCRORY.
WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU.
IM GOING TO START WITH SHOWING
OUR APOCALYPTIC CAMPAIGN FRAME
THAT BOTH TRUMP AND BIDEN
CREATED AT THEIR CONVENTIONS.
TAKE A LOOK.
>> HE IS THE DESTROYER OF
AMERICAS JOBS.
IF GIVEN THE CHANCE, HE WILL BE
THE DESTROYER OF AMERICAN
GREATNESS.
>> HES FAILED TO PROTECT US.
HES FAILED TO PROTECT AMERICA.
>> THE HARD TRUTH IS, YOU WONT
BE SAFE IN JOE BIDENS AMERICA.
>> DONALD TRUMPS FAILURE OF
LEADERSHIP HAS COST LIVES AND
LIVELIHOODS.
>> HALLIE JACKSON, THIS ISNT A
CAMPAIGN WHERE YOURE WONDERING,
GEEZ, BOY, BOTH SIDES ARE
RUNNING ON THE SAME MESSAGE.
ITS PRETTY CLEAR.
I TELL YOU, WE HEARD THOSE
MESSAGES.
TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED -- WE HAD
THREE PEOPLE KILLED THIS WEEK IN
ESSENTIALLY WHAT MAY BE
POLITICAL PROTESTS.
WERE ENTERING UNCHARTED WATERS
HERE.
>> I MEAN YOURE COMPLETELY
RIGHT, CHUCK.
ITS SOMETHING THAT WERE GOING
TO BE HEARING A LOT MORE ABOUT
FROM ESPECIALLY THE PERSON THAT
I COVER, PRESIDENT TRUMP.
IM TOLD BY SOURCES OVER THE
WEEKEND AS I WAS COMING ON THE
AIR WITH YOU, CHUCK, THAT
VIOLENCE IN THE STREETS, QUOTE
UNQUOTE, WILL BE ONE OF THE
THREE CENTRAL THEMES TO THE
PRESIDENTS CAMPAIGNING AND THE
VICE PRESIDENTS CAMPAIGNING
MOVING FORWARD OVER THE NEXT 65
DAYS OR SO ALONG WITH WHAT THEY
CONSIDER TO BE A FOCUS ON WHAT
THEY SEE IS AN IMPROVING ECONOMY
AS WELL AS TALKING ABOUT THE
CORONAVIRUS AND WHAT THEY ARE
DOING TO TRY TO MITIGATE THE
PANDEMIC, IF YOU WILL.
WHETHER OR NOT THAT WILL BE
EFFECTIVE MESSAGING FOR PEOPLE
REMAINS TO BE SEEN, BUT THIS
ISSUE OF VIOLENCE IS ONE THAT
YOUVE ALREADY SEEN THE
PRESIDENT, HIS ALLIES, HIS
SURROGATES TALKING ABOUT.
THEY BELIEVE TRULY THAT THIS IS
GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WILL
MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO GET TO THE
POLLS.
ITS A MESSAGE THE PRESIDENT IS
EXPECTED TO TAKE ON THE ROAD,
CHUCK.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT HE IS GOING
TO BE TRAVELING A TON.
OVER THE WEEKEND HE WAS TELLING
ALLIES THAT HE WANTED THE BEST
AND MOST AGGRESSIVE TRAVEL
SCHEDULE.
IN THE WORDS OF ONE PERSON I
TALKED TO, HE KNOWS HE CANT WIN
FROM INSIDE THE BUILDING SO ITS
A MESSAGE THE PRESIDENT WILL
TAKE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
HEAVILY OVER THE COMING WEEKS
AND DAYS.
LOOK FOR HIM TO BE IN FLORIDA,
LOOK FOR HIM TO BE IN NORTH
CAROLINA.
MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN.
I HEARD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT
MINNESOTA AS WELL, CHUCK.
>> YAMICHE, WHERE ARE WE RIGHT
NOW, AND WHERES THE BIDEN
CAMPAIGN IN THIS MOMENT IN YOUR
MIND?
>> THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN AGREES
WITH ESSENTIALLY ONE THING THAT
PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID DURING THE
RNC, WHICH IS THAT THIS IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION IN THE
HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY.
BOTH OF THEM ARE MAKING THE CASE
THAT THIS ELECTION IS GOING TO
BE CHANGING LIVES.
AND AS CEDRIC RICHMOND TOLD YOU,
THEY SEE THIS ISSUE OF UNARMED
BLACK PEOPLE BEING KILLED IN THE
STREETS AS LOW-HANGING FRUIT.
THAT AMERICA SHOULD BE ABLE TO
GET THIS RIGHT.
SO THEY SEE THIS AS REALLY
PITCHING THIS FORWARD AND SAYING
THIS IS THE CHAOS, THE DEATHS
THAT WERE SEEING FROM COVID AS
WELL AS THE DEATHS OF
AFRICAN-AMERICANS AT TWO AND A
HALF TIMES THE RATE OF WHITE
AMERICANS AT THE HANDS OF
POLICE, THIS SHOULD BE THE
CENTRAL ISSUE.
THEY PITCH THIS AS A BATTLE FOR
THE SOUL OF AMERICA.
THATS THE MESSAGING THAT YOURE
GOING TO HEAR OVER AND OVER
AGAIN.
THEYRE REALLY GOING TO BE
MAKING THE CASE THAT PRESIDENT
TRUMP FAILED MISERABLY ON THE
CORONAVIRUS.
I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING AS
I WAS COVERING ON THE SOUTH LAWN
OF THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY, THAT
GATHERING OF PEOPLE WITH NO
MASKS, SITTING SHOULDER TO
SHOULDER CHEERING ON THE
PRESIDENT ON THIS HOT SUMMER
NIGHT IN D.C.
THE WHITE HOUSE TRANSFORMED
COMPLETELY INTO A CONVENTION
SPACE.
THE PRESIDENT STARTED MAKING THE
CASE THAT THE UNITED STATES WAS
ONE OF THE BEST PLACES WHEN IT
CAME TO DEATH RATES IN AMERICA.
SO HIS IDEA AND THE PLAN THERE
IS GOING TO BE TO TRY TO PAINT
THIS ROSY PICTURE AND SPEAK
ABOUT THE VIRUS ALMOST AS IF
ITS IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR.
WE KNOW THATS NOT TRUE.
THE UNITED STATES IS SECOND ONLY
TO INDIA IN THE NUMBER OF NEW
CASES.
WERE SEEING EVERY DAY ABOUT
42,000 CASES.
ALONG WITH THE DEATH RATE BEING
ONE OF THE WORST IF NOT THE
WORST IN TERMS OF MODERNIZED,
INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES.
SO THOSE TWO THINGS, RACE AND
THE CORONAVIRUS WILL BE TOP OF
MIND FOR JOE BIDEN.
HES GOING TO BE HITTING THE
CAMPAIGN TRAIL AFTER LABOR DAY
AS WELL GOING TO ALL SORTS OF
STATES THAT HE SEES AS CRITICAL.
>> PAT McCRORY, HOW DOES THE
PRESIDENT NOT WALK A LINE AND
NOT LOOK LIKE HES ROOTING FOR
VIOLENCE?
YOU KNOW, KELLYANNE CONWAY ON
FRIDAY MAKING THE CASE THAT
SOMEHOW THAT SHE BELIEVES THIS
HELPS THEM.
THERES THIS LINE, AND THERES
AT TIMES YOU LOOK FROM A
POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE, ITS
ALMOST, OH, THE VIOLENCE CAN BE
HELPFUL POLITICALLY AND THAT CAN
COME ACROSS AS ALMOST LOOKING
LIKE HES ROOTING FOR IT.
>> WELL, BACK IN MAY WHEN I WAS
ON THIS PANEL RIGHT AFTER THE
MINNESOTA RIOTS AND PROTESTS, I
GAVE WARNING, DO NOT
UNDERESTIMATE THE ANARCHISTS.
I ACTUALLY THINK A LOT OF
DEMOCRATIC MAYORS AND DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNORS AND EVEN JOE BIDEN
UNDERESTIMATED THE ANARCHISTS
AND THE FEELING THAT PEOPLE WILL
HAVE, ESPECIALLY THE MIDDLE
CLASS, BOTH BLACK AND WHITE,
AGAINST PEOPLE WHO ATTACK OUR
POLICE, WHO WANT TO DEFUND OUR
POLICE, WHO COME ACROSS AS
ANTI-POLICE, WHEN MOST PEOPLE IN
AMERICA ARE IN FAVOR OF THE
POLICE.
THEYRE NOT IN FAVOR OF BAD
SHOOTINGS, TERRIBLE, HORRENDOUS
SHOOTINGS, BUT WHATS HAPPENED
IS THE ANARCHISTS HAVE
INFILTRATED PEACEFUL PROTESTS
AND HAVE GOTTEN NO PUSHBACK FROM
THE LIBERAL WING OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OR ANYONE IN
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
ITS PUT THE DEMOCRATS ON THEIR
HEELS REGARDING THE ISSUE OF
PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOW A MAJOR
ISSUE IN THIS PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN.
>> YOU KNOW, MICHAEL SCHMIDT,
LOOK, I THINK DEMOCRATS WOULD
RESPOND TO GOVERNOR McCRORY AND
SAY THATS ONE-HALF OF THE
PROBLEM.
THERE ARE ALSO RIGHT-WING
INSTIGATEORS
INSTIGATORS.
IT DOES SEEM AS IF RIGHT NOW
THERE IS SOME BAD INSTIGATORS
LOOKING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THIS MOMENT MAYBE FOR NEFARIOUS
REASONS OR REASONS WERE NOT
TALKING ABOUT.
THIS TO ME IS THE REAL DANGER OF
THIS POLITICAL MOMENT WERE IN
AS A COUNTRY.
>> THE THING THAT I PICKED UP ON
THIS WEEK AS THIS WAS ALL
PLAYING OUT WITH THE
CONVENTIONS, IS JUST THIS IDEA
THAT THINGS ARE TIGHTENING.
AS WE CAME THROUGH THE SUMMER,
AS THE PRESIDENT STRUGGLED TO
COMMUNICATE AMID ALL OF THESE
CRISES, THERE WAS SOME SENSE
THAT BIDEN WAS REALLY PULLING
AHEAD.
BUT IN THE PAST FEW DAYS COMING
OUT OF THIS, THERES JUST THIS
PREVAILING FEELING AMONGST
FOLKS, AND MAYBE IT DOESNT BEAR
ITSELF OUT IN EVERY POLL, BUT
THAT THIS IS A MUCH MORE
UNPREDICTABLE SITUATION THAN WE
THOUGHT MAYBE JUST A FEW WEEKS
AGO.
WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT 2016 AND
YOU LOOK AT HILLARY CLINTONS
NUMBERS AT THAT POINT COMPARED
TO WHERE BIDEN IS NOW, ITS JUST
THAT THIS IS NOT A SURE THING
FOR ANYONE OR FOR ANYTHING.
THIS IS GOING TO BE AN
INCREDIBLY UNPREDICTABLE FALL.
WHETHER ITS THE VIRUS, THE
POLITICS OR THE PROTESTS,
THERES JUST AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT
OF UNPREDICTABILITY AS WE HEAD
FORWARD.
>> CHUCK, I WANT TO ALSO SAY I
DIDNT SAY RIGHT-WING OR
LEFT-WING, ITS ANARCHY.
EITHER SIDE CAN UNDERESTIMATE
ANARCHISTS.
IF WE DO, WERE IN TROUBLE AS A
NATION.
>> NO, NO, NO, NO.
IM GLAD YOU CLARIFIED THAT,
PAT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THROW THE
ANARCHISTS ONTO THE LEFT WING
AND I THINK THAT THATS A --
THERE SEEMS TO BE INSTIGATORS
HERE MESSING AROUND OUTSIDE OF
EITHER SORT OF POLITICAL
MOVEMENT AT THIS POINT.
>> ANARCHISTS DONT CARE.
THEY JUST WANT TO CAUSE
VIOLENCE.
>> EXACTLY.
THEY WANT TO BURN IT DOWN.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, IM GOING TO
PAUSE IT HERE.
WHEN WE COME BACK, BOTH
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE FIGHTING
TO REGISTER NEW VOTERS IN
>>> WELCOME BACK.
>>> WELCOME BACK.
DATA DOWNLOAD TIME.
AS IN EVERY PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION YEAR, BOTH PARTIES ARE
FIGHTING TO REGISTER NEW VOTERS
AHEAD OF NOVEMBER.
SO LETS LOOK AT HOW THEYRE
DOING IN FOUR KEY BATTLEGROUND
STATES STARTING WITH
PENNSYLVANIA.
ONE OF THE THREE STATES THAT
NARROWLY PUT PRESIDENT TRUMP
OVER THE TOP IN THE ELECTORAL
COLLEGE.
SINCE ELECTION DAY 2016,
PENNSYLVANIA HAS ADDED JUST OVER
922,000 NEW VOTERS TO THE ROLLS.
THIS IS ACCORDING TO DATA.
DEMOCRATS HAVE AN ADVANTAGE,
THEY HAVE REGISTERED 132,000
MORE VOTERS THAN REPUBLICANS.
THATS NOT INSIGNIFICANT IN A
STATE WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP WON
BY LESS THAN 45,000 VOTES.
THEN THERES NORTH CAROLINA,
WHERE THERE IS ALSO A
COMPETITIVE SENATE RACE ON THE
BALLOT THIS YEAR.
OVERALL, THERE ARE 1.3 MILLION
NEW VOTERS, AND AGAIN, DEMOCRATS
HAVE AN EDGE OF MORE THAN
56,000.
ARIZONA, THERE ARE MORE THAN A
MILLION NEW VOTERS, AND THERE
THINGS HAVE BEEN A BIT CLOSER.
DEMOCRATS ONLY HOLD AN 11,000
VOTE EDGE IN NEW REGISTERINGS.
FINALLY CALIFORNIA, 2.4 MILLION
NEW VOTERS SINCE ELECTION DAY
2016 WITH DEMOCRATS HOLDING A
59,000 ADVANTAGE.
DEMOCRATS HAVE A LEAD IN NEW
VOTER REGISTRATIONS BUT THERES
ANOTHER WILD CARD.
THERE ARE ANOTHER 35% OF NEW
VOTERS IN THOSE STATES THAT ARE
NOT AFFILIATING WITH EITHER
POLITICAL PARTY.
THESE FOLKS ARE YOUNG.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGE OF
THESE UNAFFILIATED VOTERS WHO
ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 40.
63% OF NEW REGISTRANTS IN
ARIZONA, 61% IN PENNSYLVANIA,
69% IN NORTH CAROLINA AND 56% IN
FLORIDA.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT YOUNGER
VOTERS?
WELL, THEY DONT APPEAR TO BE
TRUMP FANS.
CANDIDATE TRUMP LOST VOTERS
UNDER 40 BY DOUBLE DIGITS IN
2016.
SO ADD IT ALL UP AND THESE NEW
VOTER REGISTRATION NUMBERS
SUGGEST AN ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE
THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS
PARTY FACES GOING INTO THE FINAL
STRETCH OF THIS CAMPAIGN.
>>> WHEN WE COME BACK, BOTH
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND JOE BIDEN
PLAN TO ADDRESS THE VIOLENCE IN
THE STREETS THIS
>>> WELCOME BACK.
>>> WELCOME BACK.
THE PANEL IS BACK.
WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE
PRESIDENT IN KENOSHA TUESDAY.
WE EXPECT TO HEAR FROM JOE BIDEN
TOMORROW.
WE DONT KNOW WHERE HES GOING
TO DO THAT.
PAT McCRORY, IF YOU WERE JOE
BIDEN WOULD YOU TRY TO GET TO
KENOSHA TOMORROW BEFORE THE
PRESIDENT?
>> ITS HIGH RISK, HIGH REWARD.
YOU JUST DONT KNOW WHAT TYPE OF
ENVIRONMENT YOURE ENTERING WHEN
YOU COME INTO A SITUATION WHERE
THERES BEEN A LOT OF VIOLENCE.
AS A MAYOR AND GOVERNOR, I DID
TRY TO GO IN THERE, BUT YOU HAVE
TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THE
CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE OFTEN YOU
CANNOT CONTROL THE MESSAGE.
>> YAMICHE, WHAT DOES BIDEN NEED
TO SAY TOMORROW?
HOW SHOULD HE BE FRAMING HIS
REMARKS?
>> BIDEN SHOULD SAY THAT I
UNDERSTAND THAT
AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND PEOPLE OF
COLOR IN THIS COUNTRY ARE FED UP
WITH BEING TREATED LIKE
SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS.
IVE TALKED TO SO MANY PEOPLE,
INCLUDING JACOB BLAKES OWN
FATHER WHO TOLD ME HE FELT LIKE
HIS SON WAS TREATED LIKE AN
ANIMAL.
HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE FORCES
THAT LED TO HIS SON BEING SHOT,
THEY WERE PART OF A DIABOLICAL
CONSEQUENCES OF CHATTEL SLAVERY,
THOSE WERE HIS WORDS OF THE.
IF JOE BIDEN WANTS TO CONNECT
WITH AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND
PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY, HES
GOING TO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE HURTING
AND WHO UNDERSTAND THAT MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS, A GOOD JOB, A GREAT
DEGREE, NONE OF THOSE THINGS
PROTECT YOU FROM SOMEONE
CRIMINALIZING YOUR BODY BECAUSE
YOURE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN.
FRANKLY PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL
ALSO HAVE TO DO THAT.
INSTEAD WE HEARD THE WHITE HOUSE
CALL THE PROTESTS BY THE NBA
ABSURD AND SILLY.
OF COURSE KELLYANNE CONWAY
SAYING MORE CHAOS AND VIOLENCE
WORKS IN OUR FAVOR.
SO JOE BIDEN COULD FIND A LANE
FOR HIMSELF TO SAY THOSE PEOPLE
ARE ROOTING FOR VIOLENCE.
IM HERE TO DO THIS AND BE WITH
YOU AND CONNECT WITH YOU.
>> HALLIE JACKSON, IT WAS AN
INTERESTING PHRASE THAT MARK
MEADOWS USED WITH ME.
ITS MOSTLY PEACEFUL IN DONALD
TRUMPS AMERICA.
IT WAS A JARRING LINE TO HEAR
BECAUSE HES CURRENTLY THE
PRESIDENT.
THERE SHOULDNT BE A DISTINCTION
THERE.
DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO BE THE
FRAME FOR THE REST OF THIS
CAMPAIGN THAT THEY ATTEMPT?
>> IT ALREADY IS, CHUCK.
I DONT THINK THATS GOING TO
CHANGE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL
MONTHS.
CONGRESSMAN MEADOWS ALSO SAID
SOMETHING INTERESTING TO YOU
EARLIER IN THE SHOW WHERE HE
TALKED ABOUT HOW THE PRESIDENT
IS ON THE SIDE OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND ON THE SIDE OF
LAW AND ORDER.
I THINK THAT IS THE FRAME THAT
YOURE GOING TO SEE WHEN
PRESIDENT TRUMP GOES TO KENOSHA
ON TUESDAY.
THE CAMPAIGN AND FRANKLY
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS THAT
IVE TALKED TO THINK THAT THIS
IS A POSITIVE MESSAGE FOR THE
PRESIDENT IN THE SENSE THAT THEY
THINK IT IS EFFECTIVE TO PEOPLE
WHO ARE FEELING FEARFUL, FRANKLY
TO PEOPLE IN PRESIDENT TRUMPS
BASE.
SO INSTEAD OF GOING OUT AND
DOING WHAT YAMICHE IS TALKING
ABOUT, TRYING TO TALK ABOUT, FOR
EXAMPLE, BUILDING BRIDGES TO
MEMBERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY
WHO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE
BEEN PART OF THIS INSTITUTION OF
SYSTEMIC RACISM, PRESIDENT TRUMP
HAS NOT DONE THAT IN THE LAST
THREE AND A HALF YEARS.
THERES NO INDICATION THATS
GOING TO CHANGE ON TUESDAY WHEN
HE GOES TO KENOSHA.
INSTEAD THE FRAMING WILL BE
ABOUT THAT THIN BLUE LINE THAT
YOUVE HEARD HIM, THE VICE
PRESIDENT, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
CAMPAIGN TALK ABOUT.
CHUCK, THIS MORNING, NOBODY IS
BACKING AWAY FROM THOSE REMARKS
THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT FROM
KELLYANNE CONWAY.
IN FACT THE PRESIDENTS
SURROGATES ARE DEFENDING THOSE
COMMENTS AND LEANING INTO IT.
I THINK ITS MORE OF WHAT WELL
SEE OVER THE NEXT 65 DAYS.
>> YOU KNOW, MICHAEL SCHMIDT,
PERHAPS ITS EVENTS ON THE
GROUND THAT ARE DOING THIS, BUT
IF VIOLENCE IS WHATS BEING
TALKED ABOUT AND NOT THE VIRUS,
THATS PROBABLY NOT -- THATS
PROBABLY NOT GOOD NEWS FOR JOE
BIDEN.
>> I JUST THINK THE REMARKABLE
THING ABOUT WHAT THE PRESIDENT
HAS DONE HERE IS THAT HES
ESSENTIALLY RUNNING AS IF HES
NOT IN CHARGE OF THE COUNTRY.
YOU TRIED TO RAISE THIS QUESTION
EARLIER WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF
JUST ABOUT THE ISSUE OF ISNT
THE PRESIDENT IN CHARGE.
AND THE PRESIDENT IS SORT OF
RUNNING AS IF HE IS SORT OF
CONTINUALLY THE OUTSIDER.
ITS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE
PRESIDENTS UNPRECEDENTED
APPROACH TO THE PRESIDENCY.
ITS SOMETHING THAT I FOCUSED
ENORMOUSLY ON IN THE BOOK.
ITS NOT JUST THE PRESIDENTS
UNUSUAL USE OF POWER, BUT ITS
WHAT THAT CAUSES.
AND THE PRODUCTS OF THAT.
AND IN THE CASE OF WHAT I WRITE
ABOUT, ITS ABOUT HOW THE PEOPLE
AROUND THE PRESIDENT HAVE BEEN
FORCED INTO THIS HIGHLY UNIQUE
SITUATION WHERE THEY ARE TRYING
TO CONTAIN THE PRESIDENT, TRYING
TO STOP THE PRESIDENT, AND
STANDING BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT
AND WHAT THEY THINK IS
POTENTIALLY THE ABYSS.
>> PAT McCRORY, WERE YOU
UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE SOUTH
LAWN BEING USED FOR POLITICAL
ADVERTISEMENT?
AND WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE SAID IF
BARACK OBAMA HAD DONE IT?
>> I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE
CRITICIZED IT.
WERE ALL RATHER HYPOCRITICAL.
BUT THE NBA TOO, I ADMIRED
MUHAMMED ALI AND BILL RUSSELL
AND ARTHUR ASHE, BUT THE NBA,
THE CORPORATE MESSAGING ON THE
COURTS I THINK IS A TURNOFF,
ESPECIALLY WHILE THEYRE WEARING
SHOES IN CHINA.
>> OKAY.
IVE GOT TO -- ALL RIGHT.
IVE GOT TO ENDING THE CONVERSAT
THERE.
THANK YOU ALL.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY WATCHING
TODAY.
WELL BE BACK NEXT WEEK BECAUSE
IF ITS SUNDAY, ITS "MEET THE
PRESS."
