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Morning News

Democratic National Convention: Protesters Abound; Bill and Hillary Say Farewell Tonight

Aired August 14, 2000 - 10:34 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: From politics to protests, some delegates to the Democratic Convention joined street demonstrations protesting corporate excesses.

CNN's Maria Hinojosa says that for the Democratic delegates, it's a matter of principal.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There was chanting, posters and hundreds of angry workers seeking to form a union.

VERA MIRUNDA, LOEWS HOTEL WORKER: We know that we deserve respect and dignity. And also, we'll need health insurance.

HINOJOSA: Their target: the excesses of the corporate establishment. But among their ranks were some unusual supporters, delegates to the convention of the political establishment, the Democratic Party.

ERIC HARTMAN, TEXAS DELEGATE: We are here at this rally for these workers for the same reason that we come to Los Angeles for the Democratic Convention: We need a counter weight to the privileged and the powerful in this country.

HINOJOSA: There were dozens of delegates at this peaceful protest against the Loews Hotel, hoping to fortify their party's commitment to workers' rights.

CAROL COAKLEY, MASSACHUSETTS DELEGATE: We're walking a tightrope. It's a delicate balance between supporting business and workers at the same time. It think it's -- we have leaned a little to the right.

HINOJOSA: For these delegates, there were no contradiction between the politics of protest and just plain politics.

REBECCA FRIEND, ARIZONA DELEGATE: I am a working person. I am a mom. You know, I'm a Democratic. I'm a union member.

GARY MOORE, TENNESSEE DELEGATE: What we have in common, I think, is the brotherhood of unionism. We're kind of all for one and one for all.

HINOJOSA: The workers, mostly Latinos immigrants, were encouraged by the supporters from within the Democratic Party.

FABIAN GONZALEZ, LOEWS HOTEL WORKER: It gives us a lot of courage to see these delegates that are interested in our issues.

HINOJOSA (on camera): Some of the Democratic delegates may have the interest of the workers in their souls, but that's not the only reason why they came to Los Angeles. They also came for the parties.

(voice-over): Just a block away, the demonstrators turned the table against the delegates, protesting a corporate-sponsored party for the Blue Dogs, a group of conservative Democrats.

KATHLEEN SEVELIUS, KANSAS DELEGATE: We're not in some orchestrated play where we all go one place and say one thing.

HINOJOSA: This time, the protesters were on the outside, separated by a cordon of police. And the delegates were back on the other side.

Maria Hinojosa, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: For more perspective on the Democratic National Convention and campaign 2000, we are joined now by CNN "CROSSFIRE" host, Bill Press.

Here we are, back in our home stomping ground.

BILL PRESS, HOST, "CROSSFIRE": Good morning, Daryn.

It's great to be back in L.A. yes.

KAGAN: Really good to be here.

PRESS: Welcome home.

KAGAN: Thank you very much. It is good to be here as well.

What about the protesters? What are you hearing behind the scenes among the Democratic Party officials? Are they more concerned that this could really be more disruptive than they're saying publicly?

PRESS: People are tense, you know, that this could get out of hand. At the same time, I think most people believe that the mayor, Dick Riordan and the LAPD have things under control. There's a huge police presence, as I'm sure you've seen around town.

KAGAN: Can't miss them.

PRESS: Great, great preparations. And a lot of training has gone into it. So while people hope things don't get out of hand, they are also pretty confident that they are going to be OK. If the protesters stay in their place and do their thing, the delegates can stay here and do their thing. I think everybody's happy.

KAGAN: Everyone can have a good time and fulfill their purpose. Keep those fingers crossed. That doesn't hurt either. The purpose of tonight is Clinton night: Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton. What do you think we will hear from the president tonight?

PRESS: Well, first of all, I think it is going to be a very, very emotional evening. I mean, this is eight years of Bill and Hillary Clinton. The people here obviously love them. They want to give them a huge send-off. For the president, it's his valediction, of you will, valedictory speech to the convention. And I had a brief conversation with the president last night. I mean, he's really looking forward to this.

And I think what you are going to hear is that the president is going to come here and say: Look, George Bush said that we have had eight years and we have wasted it, we have squandered it. Uh-uh, that's not true.

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: He's offended by those allegations.

PRESS: He'll really offended by that, and he's ready to strike back. And he's going to show, you know, we have put 100,000 cops on the streets, 100,000 teachers in the classroom. We have cut the deficit. We have balanced the budget. You know, we've done as much as we can on health care. I mean, he's going to, I think, going to have a fight-back speech tonight, and basically kick off this campaign.

KAGAN: There also have been some things that happened during his administration that he's not quite as proud of, you might say. He talked about those over the last week with some religious leaders. Do you think we will hear more of that, more of the message: Don't blame Al Gore for mistakes, for my personal mistakes? Will we hear that tonight?

PRESS: I don't think so. I didn't ask him that question. But, you know, he said it. He's done it. He's apologized before. He's come back last week and said: I made some mistakes, but don't blame Al Gore for my -- give him credit for the good things we've done. Don't blame him for my personal mistakes.

Frankly, I think the American people have had it, you know, with the Monica Lewinsky thing. They don't want to here another Clinton apology. They don't want to hear him go back there tonight. They really want to see him go forward and help kick off this campaign. So I would hope that we don't have another Clinton apology, and I don't expect it.

KAGAN: And then how do the Democrats balance a great big night for Bill Clinton tonight, but not over shadowing Al Gore, which seems to be the big talk around here all weekend? PRESS: You know, it is the big talk around here, which I find, frankly, a little silly. I mean, I think there's enough sunshine in California for both Al Gore and Bill Clinton. By the way, there's also enough money in Hollywood for Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton and Al Gore. And there's a lot of change left over.

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: ... so.

PRESS: But you know what, the way I see it, Daryn, is that this -- today is the last day of the Bill and Hillary convention, which is sort of Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Tomorrow is the first day of the Joe Lieberman -- Al Gore and Joe Lieberman convention, which is Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. And I don't think anybody here is going to have any problem in making the transition and just shooting forward.

KAGAN: It will be interesting to watch.

PRESS: Going to be exciting. Exciting three days. Good to be here.

KAGAN: We will see more of you today, 6:30 p.m. Eastern -- special time for "CROSSFIRE" because of...

PRESS: 6:30, one hour early, 6:30 Eastern for "CROSSFIRE."

KAGAN: OK, we will be tuned in.

PRESS: Good to be with you. Thank you.

KAGAN: All right, great, thanks for (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Bill Press.

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