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Morning News

Rep. Jackson-Lee: 'The Rule of Law Requires that the Votes of the American People be Counted'

Aired November 27, 2000 - 9:26 a.m. ET

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

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Want to take you back down to West Palm. Sheila Jackson-Lee, Democratic congresswoman, now our guest on CNN's MORNING NEWS.

REP. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE (D), TEXAS: Good morning.

HEMMER: We certainly welcome you to our program. Let's talk about the matter that needs to be taken.

Good morning to you as well. Knowing that Palm Beach has already gotten their vote in last night and the vote was certified statewide last evening, what work still needs to be done where you are?

JACKSON-LEE: Bill, I think it's important to focus on how we got here and we got here through the equitable powers used by the Supreme Court of Florida. What they decided was that the laws that the legislature had drafted were conflicting and confusing and they thought it was important, this historic election, that that they resolve this matter in an equitable and fair way. And what was that? To allow for the recount of votes manually in Palm Beach County and other counties.

That did not occur last night, when Secretary Harris extinguished that right, denied individuals their right to vote, and did not include Palm Beach County votes that were being recounted.

And so frankly, I believe it is important that the vice president emphasize that the election is not over, and that mid morning we will be going into court in Leon County and contesting this election. Because, frankly, we have a number of votes that have not been counted.

HEMMER: Let's take it out of where you are in Palm Beach. Let's take it out of Leon County as well. Let's move the argument up to Washington. It is believed later today the vice president will address the country. Maybe that happens late this afternoon, possibly in the early evening hours. Is it time, knowing the vote has been certified, to concede this current race?

JACKSON-LEE: Bill, I think the question will be: How will history write this story for the American people? not for today or for tomorrow, but how will history recount it? And I believe that the important principles are what the Supreme Court of Florida said: The right to vote is paramount. This is not a question of whether we are conceding, it is a question of whether we are rushing to judgment.

There are at least 157 votes in one county, 52 in another, 215 in another that would have to the Al Gore column. When we swear in the person who will be president of the United States on January 20, 2001, will that person be the right person? This is not a personal question. It is a question of history, of moment, and one of leadership for the American people.

So, no, I don't think it is appropriate for the vice president to concede, and I think the American people will understand. It is not just Florida, it is Texas, it is California, it is New York, it is Utah, it is South Dakota, it is all over the country, wherever there might have been a question of voting and the state was in play, I think the same processes should be in place. The rule of law requires that the votes of the American people be counted. We are not following the rule of law here in the state of Florida by extinguishing the manual recount that was offered by Palm Beach County and disallowing others who voted in other counties from voting in the presidential election of the year 2000.

HEMMER: Sheila Jackson-Lee, Democratic congresswomen, live this morning from West Palm. We appreciate your time and your thoughts this morning on this Monday morning.

JACKSON-LEE: Thank you.

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