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Monitor Breakfast: Terry McAuliffe
Selected quotations from a Monitor breakfast with Terry McAuliffe, the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. The Monitor invited his Republican counterpart to attend but the invitation was declined.
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"Until they feel safe about getting back on planes again, our economy is never going to improve because our economy is built on people traveling and meetings and conventions. Until that is fixed, [House Majority Whip] Tom Delay - who just doesn't want union workers - is holding up and holding hostage America's safety - and we are going to let everyone know that. That is a big issue for us, this is a big issue for America. This is not a Democratic issue - that is the reason it was passed 100 to zero in the US Senate."
On whether Democratic support for the war effort gives the administration a pass on civil liberties measures:
"Yes, it does give them a pass. We have got to support the president as he fights terrorism around the world. And what encompasses that is going to be a lot of the domestic civil liberties issues. We have got to monitor him, we've got to make sure that we don't go so far out there ... The reason we are the greatest democracy in the world is the rights we have, civil liberties we have here in the country. It is a delicate balance and we have to continue to stay on top of that. We have to make sure that what makes our country great is not taken up, swept up in this fight against terrorism. So it is a very close balancing act. But today, and where we are, you have got to give the president the tools he needs to do the job."
On predictions for the 2004 election:
"When we go to the polls in 2004, the economy will be a very big piece. Because what every American is wondering is do they have a job, do they feel secure they will continue to have a job, are they putting money away for retirement, are they educating their kids, are they feeding their kids?
"Those sort of basic issues are what Bill Clinton ran on against President Bush 41 in 1992, and we will be back again. So I think the American public will say who is going to be best leading the economy along as well as if we are still involved in the war, can this Democrat do an effective job of fighting the war and how will this Democrat handle the economy. Those are going to go on in the voters' minds. We don't know the answer to that today. But I can tell you... I speak to many people I think will be possible candidates and I don't think anyone has changed their minds. It has not changed the mentality of our presidential candidates."
On whether Michael Bloomberg, who ran as a Republican, will be a good mayor of New York City:
"Yes, he is a great Democrat!"
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