1. Previously on The West Wing:Copy !req
2. Ever see Arnie Vinick campaign?
Up close?Copy !req
3. He'll go into those
high school gymnasiums...Copy !req
4. in Iowa and New Hampshire
and blow them all away.Copy !req
5. Shake every hand in the joint,
kiss every baby...Copy !req
6. hug every widow
on Social Security...Copy !req
7. and sound smarter and more honest
than any Republican they've ever seen...Copy !req
8. because he is.Copy !req
9. The New Jersey polls closed
three minutes ago, 9 p. m. Eastern time.Copy !req
10. And although we have
no official results yet...Copy !req
11. we can now report that our exit polls
indicate another huge win tonight...Copy !req
12. for California Senator Arnold Vinick
in the Republican presidential primary.Copy !req
13. New Jersey's Democratic presidential
primary is still too close to call.Copy !req
14. Vice President Bob Russell
was the favorite...Copy !req
15. in the final primary tonight.Copy !req
16. But our exit polls show
another very tight race...Copy !req
17. between Russell and
Texas Congressman Matt Santos.Copy !req
18. Russell was hoping for a win
in New Jersey...Copy !req
19. to prove a central campaign theme...Copy !req
20. that he is the only Democrat
who can actually win in November.Copy !req
21. A Santos win tonight would be
another big upset for the congressman...Copy !req
22. and leave him only about
100 delegates behind Russell...Copy !req
23. and hurt the Russell
electability argument.Copy !req
24. Neither will pick up
enough delegates tonight...Copy !req
25. to get the nomination...Copy !req
26. but a win in the final primary could
give Santos the momentum he needs...Copy !req
27. going into the Democratic
National Convention next month.Copy !req
28. As expected, Senator Vinick now has
the Republican nomination locked up.Copy !req
29. Reverend Don Butler
was the last man standing...Copy !req
30. against Vinick
in the Republican field.Copy !req
31. We're told that he'll concede
the race to Vinick...Copy !req
32. in a speech at his campaign
headquarters in Virginia.Copy !req
33. I've got Senator Vinick here.
Just a second, Reverend Butler.Copy !req
34. Hi, Don.Copy !req
35. Thanks.Copy !req
36. Hi, honey.Copy !req
37. Hey, Don, I'm gonna need your help
to bring the party together now.Copy !req
38. I'll wake you up early, and I'll help
you finish your homework then.Copy !req
39. - Okay. Love you.
- Yeah, sure.Copy !req
40. No, anytime.
Whenever you want.Copy !req
41. No, we'll clear the schedule for you.Copy !req
42. Okay, Don.Copy !req
43. - Butler wants a meeting.
- Great.Copy !req
44. We gotta move fast on VP,
show Republicans coming together...Copy !req
45. while the Democrats are fighting
for the nomination.Copy !req
46. I love Don. He's a great guy.
An honorable guy.Copy !req
47. He's the funniest on the list.Copy !req
48. But he beat me up pretty bad
on abortion during the primaries.Copy !req
49. How's he gonna walk back from that?Copy !req
50. He doesn't have to.
We don't want him to.Copy !req
51. You agree on most issues
and respectfully disagree on a couple.Copy !req
52. - A couple.
- Sign of strength.Copy !req
53. Not looking for a yes man.Copy !req
54. Shows I'm looking for someone to help
with the party's conservative base.Copy !req
55. That too.Copy !req
56. We're in Butler headquarters.Copy !req
57. Don Butler, a heartbeat away
from the presidency?Copy !req
58. Thank you! Thank you.Copy !req
59. Well, you win some, you lose some.
And we won some primaries.Copy !req
60. But Senator Vinick won some more.Copy !req
61. No. No, no.Copy !req
62. Now is the time for this party to come
together and take back the White House.Copy !req
63. - Sounds very vice presidential to me.
- He's a good soldier.Copy !req
64. I want to thank the Butler Brigade.Copy !req
65. Secret Service wants you
to start moving down to the ballroom.Copy !req
66. Sheila.Copy !req
67. Thanks.Copy !req
68. - As was anticipated, Senator Vinick...
- It's Vinick.Copy !req
69. Yeah.Copy !req
70. We go live now as he addresses
his supporters.Copy !req
71. Thank you.Copy !req
72. Thank you very much.Copy !req
73. We got nobody who can beat him.Copy !req
74. - Vinick! Vinick! Vinick!
- Thank you.Copy !req
75. We did it!Copy !req
76. Senator Arnold Vinick has the
Republican nomination locked up.Copy !req
77. But they've been counting votes all
night, and we still don't have a winner...Copy !req
78. in the New Jersey Democratic
presidential primary.Copy !req
79. The lead has been shifting. With
97 percent of the precincts reporting...Copy !req
80. Congressman Matt Santos has a lead
of less than 1000 votes...Copy !req
81. over Vice President Bob Russell.Copy !req
82. What are you doing?Copy !req
83. - You were sleeping.
- They're still counting New Jersey.Copy !req
84. - So what?
- So what?Copy !req
85. It doesn't matter who wins.Copy !req
86. No one's gonna have enough delegates
for the nomination.Copy !req
87. Come on, wake up
and smell the chaos.Copy !req
88. No candidate will win enough delegates
to secure the Democratic nomination.Copy !req
89. - I promised Tim I'd do the show.
- You will, just not this week.Copy !req
90. The more you're on TV now...Copy !req
91. the less they cover the
Democratic Party mess.Copy !req
92. That's the story we want this week.Copy !req
93. - I'll pull press events off the schedule.
- Fundraisers?Copy !req
94. - No press allowed.
- Excuse me, Senator Vinick.Copy !req
95. Don't take too many questions.Copy !req
96. Senator, when are you
gonna choose a VP?Copy !req
97. Hadn't really thought
about it.Copy !req
98. Would you rather face
Russell or Santos?Copy !req
99. I'm in no hurry to face anyone.Copy !req
100. Tell the Democrats they can
take their time figuring it out.Copy !req
101. Do you think your lead in California...Copy !req
102. gives you the lock
on the Electoral College?Copy !req
103. I have a lock on the
Republican nomination, nothing else.Copy !req
104. I won't take my state for granted.
I'll work hard to win California.Copy !req
105. - Work hard to win every state.
- Thank you.Copy !req
106. Senator, how can you cut taxes
and cut the deficit at the same time?Copy !req
107. I have a two-for-one plan.Copy !req
108. For every dollar we cut taxes,
we're cutting spending by $2.Copy !req
109. Drastic spending cuts in vital areas?Copy !req
110. You call it drastic, I call it necessary.
I'm for good government we can afford.Copy !req
111. - No more, no less.
- That's all. Thank you.Copy !req
112. What do you think of the deal
the city council's negotiating...Copy !req
113. - ... to keep baseball in the city?
- Ridiculous. Teams should pay.Copy !req
114. They can pay 80 million for a shortstop
but can't pay for their own stadiums?Copy !req
115. - Come on.
- Okay, we're done. Thank you.Copy !req
116. - Thank you.
- Senator, excuse me.Copy !req
117. Thanks. Now I'm gonna have
to give back my tickets to the game.Copy !req
118. - I had to pull a lot of strings to get them.
- Did you pay for them?Copy !req
119. - Of course.
- Forget about it. They're your seats.Copy !req
120. - Where are we sitting?
- No way. I only got two.Copy !req
121. - The kids fighting over who gets to go?
- Holly's got a biology test the next day.Copy !req
122. - Brendan's got practice, so...
- Tell Tina to bring her glove.Copy !req
123. I want her to catch a foul ball for me.Copy !req
124. Yes, Madam Secretary,
I have your memo.Copy !req
125. I see.Copy !req
126. Yeah, I unders...Copy !req
127. I'll give it to the president. Right.Copy !req
128. I understood the debt-ceiling situation
perfectly before I talked to her.Copy !req
129. Can we have a treasury secretary
who speaks English?Copy !req
130. - It's Santos.
- By how much?Copy !req
131. - Couple thousand votes.
- Santos won New Jersey?Copy !req
132. - Yeah.
- How many delegates?Copy !req
133. A press release on raising
the debt ceiling?Copy !req
134. - Because I don't understand it.
- No press release.Copy !req
135. When's the vote scheduled?Copy !req
136. Treasury thinks debt interest
will hit the limit tomorrow.Copy !req
137. They want the vote right now.Copy !req
138. - Which, of course, is a ridiculous idea.
- Of course.Copy !req
139. - The leadership wants it last minute.
- How crazy is that?Copy !req
140. They like to schedule at the last minute,
when we're about to default.Copy !req
141. That way, it's too dangerous
for any senator to try to stop it.Copy !req
142. Leaves time for a few speeches
about how awful it is...Copy !req
143. we maxed out the national credit card,
a vote to raise the card's limit.Copy !req
144. It's a one-sentence bill.
Change the seven to an eight.Copy !req
145. - Trillion.
- Yeah, trillion.Copy !req
146. Treasury wants the president to read
a 20-page memo on a short bill?Copy !req
147. - They run the worst-case scenario.
- In case it doesn't pass?Copy !req
148. The immediate collapse
of the U.S. economy...Copy !req
149. Japan sinking into the sea,
followed by a worldwide depression...Copy !req
150. no mortal can imagine.
Followed by week two.Copy !req
151. So this debt thing is routine
or the end of the world?Copy !req
152. - Both.
- Okay. That's it. Thanks, everybody.Copy !req
153. - We gotta do something.
- It's not the end of the world.Copy !req
154. - Just the end of a lifestyle.
- It's the end of the Democratic Party.Copy !req
155. We're facing a Republican
who can win California...Copy !req
156. and maybe 49 other states,
and who do we have? We have nobody.Copy !req
157. Going into a convention
without a candidate.Copy !req
158. See Broder's column today? He says
this is great for the Democratic Party.Copy !req
159. Yeah, he's on drugs.Copy !req
160. Conventions used to be
about picking a nominee.Copy !req
161. - Suspense.
- The networks are gonna love it.Copy !req
162. - They'll cover everything.
- Yeah.Copy !req
163. Instead of predictable emptiness,
all hell's gonna break loose.Copy !req
164. The good news is, the Dems
are in disarray.Copy !req
165. Bad news is we don't know
who we're against.Copy !req
166. - Santos, if we're lucky.
- Santos could be tougher than Russell.Copy !req
167. Santos couldn't even carry
his own his state.Copy !req
168. Santos won the big states.Copy !req
169. Russell's weak in Northeastern
urban women...Copy !req
170. suburban men, all minorities,
not to mention...Copy !req
171. Okay. How much do we need
for the ground game?Copy !req
172. We can't plan till we know
who we're against.Copy !req
173. They're both strong in different states.Copy !req
174. We can't wait till after the Democratic
Convention to build an organization.Copy !req
175. Yeah.Copy !req
176. Okay. Royce is here.Copy !req
177. - Where?
- Reception, waiting to see you.Copy !req
178. The majority leader
is coming to my office?Copy !req
179. Guess he wants to be
first in line for VP.Copy !req
180. Oh, boy. Here we go.Copy !req
181. - Okay, bring him in.
- Right.Copy !req
182. Mr. Leader.Copy !req
183. Arnie. I just wanna be the first guy
in the building to say congratulations.Copy !req
184. Didn't have to come all the way here.Copy !req
185. Cut it out, Arnie. You're the real leader
of this party now.Copy !req
186. I just want you to know
I'm at your service.Copy !req
187. Whatever you need me to do,
just say the word.Copy !req
188. Thanks, Bob. Have a seat.Copy !req
189. First of all, I can be very helpful
with fundraising.Copy !req
190. I have the highest yielding
direct mail list in town. Second...Copy !req
191. How many delegates
does Santos have?Copy !req
192. - 1599.
- So Russell's only 80 ahead.Copy !req
193. Seventy-eight. Russell's got 1677.Copy !req
194. - And Hoynes has 956.
- What's the magic number?Copy !req
195. 2162 gets you the nomination.Copy !req
196. Hoynes doesn't have a chance.Copy !req
197. He's betting
on the second or third ballot...Copy !req
198. the delegates will get shaky
about these newcomers.Copy !req
199. Move to the guy they've known.Copy !req
200. Before the convention, the party
will go through four weeks of chaos.Copy !req
201. Fighting over who will be on the platform
committee, what will be in the platform.Copy !req
202. - Who gets to speak on what night.
- Uncommitted delegates.Copy !req
203. Convincing committed delegates
to switch on the second ballot.Copy !req
204. While Vinick is looking
more presidential every day.Copy !req
205. Mr. President,
until we have a nominee...Copy !req
206. you are still the head of this party.Copy !req
207. Okay. Let's get Russell
and Santos in here.Copy !req
208. - And Hoynes?
- No. C.J.'s right.Copy !req
209. - He doesn't have a chance.
- You'll broker a deal?Copy !req
210. They're not ready for that.
Just a photo op.Copy !req
211. Remind people that we still know
something about running the country.Copy !req
212. Maybe a little less
about running a party.Copy !req
213. I don't feel comfortable about this.Copy !req
214. Everybody does it at this stage.
Bring in new people.Copy !req
215. Yeah, but a Democrat? I spent
the last six months fighting this idea...Copy !req
216. that somehow I'm not a real
Republican, then I bring in a Democrat?Copy !req
217. One step at a time. I'm just saying
we should meet with him.Copy !req
218. Governor Baker vouches that we can
trust him not to leak the meeting.Copy !req
219. - I don't know.
- He says he has a plan to win 50 states.Copy !req
220. Okay, bring him in.Copy !req
221. Bruno.Copy !req
222. Come on in.Copy !req
223. - Congratulations, senator.
- Thank you, Bruno. Have a seat.Copy !req
224. - Fifty states, huh?
- Sound crazy to you?Copy !req
225. Well, it did get my attention.Copy !req
226. Republicans have won 49 states twice
in the last 30 years.Copy !req
227. They've never had anybody...Copy !req
228. with as much independent
and cross-party appeal as you.Copy !req
229. I can't plan a 50-state campaign before
we know who I'm running against.Copy !req
230. Who told you that? Because if it is
somebody on your campaign staff...Copy !req
231. you gotta fire that person right now.Copy !req
232. I would run you from today
to Election Day...Copy !req
233. without ever mentioning
your opponent.Copy !req
234. This campaign should be all about you,
the reasons you should be president.Copy !req
235. And those reasons are exactly
where 60 percent of the voters are.Copy !req
236. Pro-choice, anti-partial birth,
pro-death penalty...Copy !req
237. anti-tax, pro-environment
and pro-business...Copy !req
238. pro-balanced budget.
I could go on and on.Copy !req
239. Oh, please do.Copy !req
240. You're in a unique position to run
a completely positive campaign...Copy !req
241. because most of the country
agrees with you on most of the issues.Copy !req
242. The only thing you could do
to ruin that now...Copy !req
243. is to pick Don Butler as your VP.Copy !req
244. So you tell me you're not even
thinking about that, I'll shut up.Copy !req
245. You've seen the papers. Everybody says
Butler's on the short list.Copy !req
246. Every talking head on TV says
that is brilliant...Copy !req
247. guarantees you a win, which it does,
but not a big win.Copy !req
248. I have to reach out
to the pro-life Republican base.Copy !req
249. We have to give them some reason
to come to the polls.Copy !req
250. I'm never gonna be that reason.Copy !req
251. There are many pro-life Republicans...Copy !req
252. who are more qualified for VP
than Don Butler.Copy !req
253. What do you know
about Republican politics?Copy !req
254. - I don't care about Republican politics.
- Well, that I believe.Copy !req
255. I don't care about
Democratic politics, either.Copy !req
256. Okay, I do care about the Democrats.Copy !req
257. Look, they don't know it yet.Copy !req
258. You are the best thing
to ever happen to them.Copy !req
259. You're moving the Republicans
away from the right wing.Copy !req
260. You're not saying Democrats
are not patriotic.Copy !req
261. You're just saying
that your approach is better.Copy !req
262. You are making politics
a fair fight again.Copy !req
263. What?Copy !req
264. You think I'm a spy?Copy !req
265. I snuck in here,
I'm trying to steer you wrong?Copy !req
266. The thought has crossed my mind.Copy !req
267. I have spent the last 20 years
ripping this country apart.Copy !req
268. Finding wedge issues
to separate the voters.Copy !req
269. You don't have to do that to win.
Not this time.Copy !req
270. You do this right, you can do
a lot more than win.Copy !req
271. You can stop using politics
to divide this country.Copy !req
272. You can show us how much we agree,
instead of how much we disagree.Copy !req
273. You can put this country
back together.Copy !req
274. - Please, C.J., it's a terrible idea.
- It's the president's idea.Copy !req
275. Can't you see it's an insult
to the vice president...Copy !req
276. - ... to bring them into his White House?
- His White House?Copy !req
277. The VP belongs here.Copy !req
278. The president is the party head.
He won't let it crash and burn now.Copy !req
279. This is his solution? A photo op?Copy !req
280. Remind voters we're good at running
the country, which the VP has a role in.Copy !req
281. Show everyone that the party
isn't in meltdown mode.Copy !req
282. Okay. Russell has to have a separate
photo op alone with the president.Copy !req
283. A shot of them discussing,
you know, affairs of state.Copy !req
284. No. We do this the president's way.
It'll be good for everyone.Copy !req
285. Russell can beat Vinick.Copy !req
286. He won twice as many states
and the most delegates.Copy !req
287. Santos has the momentum.Copy !req
288. Because he won New Jersey
by 1 percent? Russell is our best hope.Copy !req
289. He's been a good vice president.Copy !req
290. To bring the party together...Copy !req
291. - ... he should get behind Russell now.
- Ten a. m. tomorrow morning in the Oval.Copy !req
292. Most of the donors tonight are
from the pharmaceutical industry.Copy !req
293. You got the list?Copy !req
294. I'll give them my "how American
medicine saves the world" speech.Copy !req
295. Protect the patents, no price controls,
no Canadian imports.Copy !req
296. We got a lot of the energy industry
people tonight too.Copy !req
297. Yeah. When? Wait. Hold on a second.Copy !req
298. Hi, sweetie.Copy !req
299. - The area of a parallelogram is...
- Length times width.Copy !req
300. Length times width.
Same as a rectangle?Copy !req
301. Yes, that's the same as a rectangle.
No problem.Copy !req
302. Love you.Copy !req
303. Okay, I'm back.Copy !req
304. That's great. Thanks.Copy !req
305. You're meeting with the Reverend Butler
first thing in the morning.Copy !req
306. Do you think Bruno's right? That we
shouldn't put Butler on the ticket?Copy !req
307. Maybe. But we need Butler,
one way or the other.Copy !req
308. If he's not on the ticket, we still need
a strong endorsement from him.Copy !req
309. Now, these energy types
that will be there tonight...Copy !req
310. they wanna hear how you're
voting on the energy-deregulation bill.Copy !req
311. Well, it depends on what's in it
when it comes out.Copy !req
312. It's a very bad message to the
big contributors if you vote against it.Copy !req
313. Hey, if you can't drink their booze,
take their money...Copy !req
314. and then vote against them,
you don't belong in this business.Copy !req
315. Hey, glad you could both make it.Copy !req
316. - Mr. President.
- Mr. President.Copy !req
317. Annabeth, you can bring
in the thundering herd.Copy !req
318. Sit down.Copy !req
319. It's good to finally meet you,
congressman.Copy !req
320. - It's an honor.
- Congratulations.Copy !req
321. - Thank you, sir.
- Bob, thanks for doing this.Copy !req
322. A pleasure, Mr. President.Copy !req
323. All right, that's it. Thank you.Copy !req
324. - Thank you.
- Thank you.Copy !req
325. All right, listen up.Copy !req
326. This is a tough situation for you.Copy !req
327. I understand that.Copy !req
328. The press is geared up
for its favorite blood sport...Copy !req
329. Democrats attacking each other.Copy !req
330. And I know that's what some people
are gonna tell you to do.Copy !req
331. But we cannot allow that to happen.Copy !req
332. That would just hand over the election
to the Republicans.Copy !req
333. One of you is gonna be our nominee...Copy !req
334. so I want both of you to start acting
like the nominee right now.Copy !req
335. No attacks on each other.Copy !req
336. I'm gonna be watching.Copy !req
337. If I think you've overstepped
a line...Copy !req
338. I'll grab the nearest microphone
and say so.Copy !req
339. And don't be surprised if I endorse
the other guy while I'm at it.Copy !req
340. - Are we clear?
- Yes, sir.Copy !req
341. Smart move.Copy !req
342. If one of those guys had
Jed Bartlet's political instincts...Copy !req
343. I'd be 20 points behind.Copy !req
344. You read Ray Sullivan's file yet?Copy !req
345. Youngest U.S. attorney
ever confirmed by the Senate.Copy !req
346. Two-term state attorney general.Copy !req
347. Highest white-collar crime
conviction rate in the state's history.Copy !req
348. How much white-collar crime
is there in West Virginia?Copy !req
349. He had the guts to go after them.
That's what counts.Copy !req
350. Highest percentage of independents
ever to vote Republican in West Virginia.Copy !req
351. He won the governorship
with 62 percent of the vote.Copy !req
352. - Reverend Butler's here.
- Thank you.Copy !req
353. I just wanna be an honest broker here.
That's why I brought in Bruno.Copy !req
354. You needed to hear
what he had to say.Copy !req
355. Maybe you can win 50 states
his way...Copy !req
356. but if you choose Butler, you'll lock in
an Electoral College landslide today.Copy !req
357. Butler would scare away any Democrats
and a lot of independents.Copy !req
358. But you'd unite the Republican Party
while the Democrats are falling apart.Copy !req
359. - So you want Butler on the ticket.
- I just want you to hear...Copy !req
360. everything before making the most
important choice of your career.Copy !req
361. Ray Sullivan is the best man.
Don Butler is the best bet.Copy !req
362. Bring him in.Copy !req
363. Reverend Butler. Thanks for coming in.Copy !req
364. Hey, Arnie. Good to see you.Copy !req
365. Thanks for coming by.
I really appreciate it.Copy !req
366. You know, the Secret Service has me
feeling like I'm in solitary confinement.Copy !req
367. You think they got a tight leash
on you now...Copy !req
368. imagine what it's gonna feel like
when you move down the street.Copy !req
369. I hit you pretty hard
during the primaries.Copy !req
370. And I just want you to know
it was never personal.Copy !req
371. Abortion is not a political issue
with me.Copy !req
372. I know. I respect that.Copy !req
373. I've been thinking about how we
could work around our differences...Copy !req
374. and put them behind us and head
toward November together.Copy !req
375. That's funny. So have I.Copy !req
376. Don, I think you can help me take
the White House back for the party.Copy !req
377. You won states I never could win.Copy !req
378. I think in the general election,
with you on the ticket...Copy !req
379. Arnie, let me stop you right there.Copy !req
380. I suppose I could go along with you
on the environmental issues.Copy !req
381. We agree on oil drilling in ANWR.Copy !req
382. We could probably get closer together
on trade.Copy !req
383. Maybe split the difference
on textile tariffs.Copy !req
384. And we could just keep talking
tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts.Copy !req
385. Yeah. We're in lock step on that one.Copy !req
386. But then we come back to abortion.Copy !req
387. And I am here to tell you, Arnie...Copy !req
388. I do not respect your position
on abortion...Copy !req
389. and there's just no way in the world
I could run on a ticket with you.Copy !req
390. No way. You know, I wanted to be
a good soldier.Copy !req
391. I wanted to help the party.
I really did.Copy !req
392. I prayed on this one. Prayed a lot.Copy !req
393. And this is where I came out.Copy !req
394. This isn't easy for a kid who grew up
in a trailer in Appalachia.Copy !req
395. Finds himself within shouting distance...Copy !req
396. of the vice presidency
of the United States.Copy !req
397. Next in line. It's not easy.Copy !req
398. Well...Copy !req
399. You're kidding.Copy !req
400. Did you actually offer it to him?Copy !req
401. I tried to.Copy !req
402. - And he turned it down.
- No, he cut me off.Copy !req
403. He didn't let me offer him
something he would have to refuse.Copy !req
404. - He's a classy guy.
- What about an endorsement?Copy !req
405. It wasn't the best time
to ask him for it.Copy !req
406. Butler's live on MSNBC.Copy !req
407. Did Vinick offer you
a spot on the ticket?Copy !req
408. No, he did not offer me
a spot on the ticket.Copy !req
409. Did you discuss the vice presidency?Copy !req
410. I requested the meeting simply to let
the senator hear directly from me...Copy !req
411. that I have no interest
in running for vice president...Copy !req
412. and don't wanna be considered
for the ticket.Copy !req
413. Would you wanna be on the ticket if
Vinick changed his position on abortion?Copy !req
414. First of all, I'd get down on my knees
and thank God for performing a miracle.Copy !req
415. Then I'd have "Vote Vinick"
tattooed on my forehead.Copy !req
416. Reverend, will you pray for him
to change his mind?Copy !req
417. I'm sorry. You really surprised me
with that one.Copy !req
418. You know, I never heard a good idea
from a reporter before.Copy !req
419. Yes. Yes, I will pray
for Senator Vinick.Copy !req
420. And he's welcome to come down
to my church any time he wants...Copy !req
421. and pray with me. Now, I'll be back
in the pulpit this Sunday.Copy !req
422. And there will always be a place for
the senator in the front row. Thank you.Copy !req
423. - One more question.
- Great.Copy !req
424. One more.Copy !req
425. How do we spin this thing?Copy !req
426. Say you fully respect
Reverend Butler's position...Copy !req
427. that he's not interested in VP.Copy !req
428. Just keep repeating those four words:Copy !req
429. "Fully respect
Reverend Butler's position. "Copy !req
430. Five words.Copy !req
431. The Butler Brigade needs
to keep hearing that:Copy !req
432. "Respect, respect. " Then we hit them
with some direct mail pieces...Copy !req
433. about your opposition
to partial-birth abortion.Copy !req
434. Get Butler supporters
to vote for the lesser of two evils.Copy !req
435. - Thanks.
- Are we getting Butler's endorsement?Copy !req
436. - Don't know.
- Why not accept his invitation?Copy !req
437. - Go down to his church on Sunday.
- And?Copy !req
438. And pray for his endorsement.Copy !req
439. It's a great photo op.Copy !req
440. Yeah, it's a great photo op,
but he can't take any questions.Copy !req
441. - He always takes questions.
- I know.Copy !req
442. That's what all of us out here
in the cheap seats love about him.Copy !req
443. So...?Copy !req
444. "Senator, we know what
Reverend Butler prayed for.Copy !req
445. What did you pray for?"Copy !req
446. "Senator, do you think Reverend Butler
is wrong about abortion?"Copy !req
447. "Senator, will you remove opposition
to abortion from the party platform?"Copy !req
448. You ain't getting any questions about
how we pay for sports stadiums.Copy !req
449. So he shouldn't go to Butler's church.Copy !req
450. You can't play Butler.
He's not a politician.Copy !req
451. - Fooled me.
- Look.Copy !req
452. All I am saying is Butler's
gonna make a decision...Copy !req
453. to endorse you and rally his troops
or not.Copy !req
454. There's nothing you can do about it.Copy !req
455. - So, what do we do?
- You play the game you came to play.Copy !req
456. You don't play Butler's game.
You don't play anybody else's game.Copy !req
457. You do exactly
what you planned to do.Copy !req
458. Make a move on VP quickly,
show you're moving ahead...Copy !req
459. while the other side
is without a nominee.Copy !req
460. - Who's next on your VP list?
- Ray Sullivan.Copy !req
461. Good choice. Great resume.Copy !req
462. Crime-fighting prosecutor.
Budget-balancing governor.Copy !req
463. - Wins West Virginia for us.
- Get him in here today.Copy !req
464. Make the Sullivan meeting the story
instead of the Butler meeting.Copy !req
465. - Sheila?
- Works for me.Copy !req
466. - Okay. Set up the Sullivan meeting.
- Sounds risky.Copy !req
467. Not the craziest idea
from the Democrats.Copy !req
468. The president won't like it.Copy !req
469. It's the way to get
a minimum wage vote.Copy !req
470. But sticking an amendment
on the debt ceiling?Copy !req
471. They won't even try it
if the president says no.Copy !req
472. - When do they need an answer?
- You know, like, now.Copy !req
473. It's way too risky.Copy !req
474. But if the Democrats can force a vote
on the amendment...Copy !req
475. it puts the Republicans
in a tough spot.Copy !req
476. Don't wanna vote against
a minimum-wage increase...Copy !req
477. - ... in an election year.
- But they will.Copy !req
478. Most of them, yeah,
but what does Vinick do?Copy !req
479. Bad time for him to break
with his party...Copy !req
480. especially now that he has
this Butler problem.Copy !req
481. - Will he?
- He'll go where the voters are.Copy !req
482. DNC polls show 75 percent
in favor of raising minimum wage.Copy !req
483. And I haven't been able to get
the working-poor a raise in seven years.Copy !req
484. Could be your last chance.Copy !req
485. He'll vote for the cloture motion.
Doesn't mean he'll vote...Copy !req
486. against the minimum wage
if it comes to a vote.Copy !req
487. Okay.Copy !req
488. I know I said
we'd get there early.Copy !req
489. - But...
- I wanna see batting practice.Copy !req
490. Well, a couple things have come up.
You just hang on.Copy !req
491. Okay, George. Thank you.
I really appreciate it. Good.Copy !req
492. You have to go vote.Copy !req
493. - On what?
- Cloture motion.Copy !req
494. Democrats are trying to stick a minimum
wage amendment on the debt ceiling.Copy !req
495. Cheap stunt. What are they gonna do?Copy !req
496. Not raise the debt ceiling
if we don't raise the minimum wage?Copy !req
497. - It's a game of chicken now.
- Couldn't be more reckless.Copy !req
498. If they don't pass it...Copy !req
499. we're gonna have a lot more
poor people in this country.Copy !req
500. Don't they know what
a depression looks like?Copy !req
501. The minimum wage
would be the maximum wage.Copy !req
502. They're aiming at you, trying to separate
you from the party.Copy !req
503. Seems to be getting easier every day.Copy !req
504. Hey, look who's here.Copy !req
505. - Hey, senator.
- I'm counting on you bigtime.Copy !req
506. I can't vote, you know.Copy !req
507. I'm counting on your mother
to vote for me.Copy !req
508. I'm counting on you to catch me
a foul ball tonight.Copy !req
509. No way. If I catch one,
I'm keeping it.Copy !req
510. She can't give it to you.
It's a violation of Senate gift rules.Copy !req
511. - Gotta go now.
- See you later, Tina.Copy !req
512. - Bye, senator.
- We'll be right back.Copy !req
513. It's just a quick vote.Copy !req
514. We gotta get past the press
as fast as we can.Copy !req
515. - No Butler questions.
- Okay.Copy !req
516. - Senator.
- Senator.Copy !req
517. - Sorry, guys, he's got no time.
- Were you surprised at Butler's...?Copy !req
518. - Sorry. I gotta vote.
- You accepting his invitation?Copy !req
519. I really have to go. Sorry.Copy !req
520. Are you coming to his church
this Sunday?Copy !req
521. I think I'm gonna...
I have some TV commitments that day.Copy !req
522. Meet the Press is more important
than church?Copy !req
523. I don't know what my schedule
is on Sunday.Copy !req
524. - Get us out of here.
- Sorry.Copy !req
525. Going to another church on Sunday?Copy !req
526. Do you think doing Sunday TV is
more important than going to church?Copy !req
527. - Where do you go to church, senator?
- Senator.Copy !req
528. - Do you go to church at all?
- Senator.Copy !req
529. No, Mike, no one saw this coming.Copy !req
530. Vinick went from the candidate
who answered any question...Copy !req
531. to being the guy who won't even
tell us if he goes to church.Copy !req
532. - Let's round up the troops.
- Senator, do you go to church?Copy !req
533. Honey, we're kind of busy right now.Copy !req
534. We gotta get you to that game, right?Copy !req
535. I didn't really expect
to see batting practice.Copy !req
536. I haven't gone to church for a while.Copy !req
537. - I think you should.
- Yeah.Copy !req
538. Unless you don't believe in God.Copy !req
539. My best friend, Maggie,
doesn't believe...Copy !req
540. because her parents
don't believe in God.Copy !req
541. But she still comes to our church on
Christmas Eve to see the nativity play...Copy !req
542. because I'm always in it,
and she's my best friend.Copy !req
543. I gotta get back to work.Copy !req
544. Hang in there, honey.Copy !req
545. Right. Just so you know...Copy !req
546. our polling shows that if you were
to revise your position on abortion...Copy !req
547. - ... you would...
- Flip-flop on abortion?Copy !req
548. You would take 51 to 53 percent
of the vote...Copy !req
549. and a comfortable cushion
in the Electoral College.Copy !req
550. - Thanks, that's very helpful.
- Just thought you should know.Copy !req
551. One shot of you walking
into a church on Sunday...Copy !req
552. - ... to put this church thing behind us.
- Won't work.Copy !req
553. The press will ask,
"Why not go to Butler's church?"Copy !req
554. Then they'll ask you when was
the last time you went to church.Copy !req
555. I'm guessing wasn't last week.Copy !req
556. Been a while.Copy !req
557. How long?Copy !req
558. Counting weddings and funerals?Copy !req
559. Okay, everybody. Governor Sullivan's
gonna be here any minute.Copy !req
560. Let's clear out.Copy !req
561. Has it been years?Copy !req
562. You know where I am
Sunday mornings?Copy !req
563. I'm in here or at home,
doing my job...Copy !req
564. doing what I promised
the people of California I would do.Copy !req
565. Giving every minute I can.Copy !req
566. - How many years?
- I don't know.Copy !req
567. I used to go with my wife
every Sunday I was in California.Copy !req
568. Then when she got too sick to go,
you know, I stayed home with her.Copy !req
569. And after her funeral, I didn't wanna
go into that church again.Copy !req
570. So about five or six years.Copy !req
571. I'm not the only senator
who doesn't go to church.Copy !req
572. You're not just a senator anymore.Copy !req
573. Yeah. Okay. Put him through.Copy !req
574. It's Royce.Copy !req
575. Yes, Mr. Leader.Copy !req
576. I understand.Copy !req
577. Yes, he can handle that.Copy !req
578. We'll get him over there right away.Copy !req
579. He wants you to go see the president.Copy !req
580. - Governor Sullivan is here.
- Thank you.Copy !req
581. Royce is afraid they're not gonna pass
the debt-ceiling bill in time.Copy !req
582. Wants you to work out a deal
with the president...Copy !req
583. so the Democrats will let us pass
the debt ceiling before midnight.Copy !req
584. So five minutes with the governor,
then you'll go to the White House.Copy !req
585. Okay.Copy !req
586. - Governor Sullivan.
- Sheila.Copy !req
587. Hey, Ray. Great to see you again.Copy !req
588. - Good to see you, Arnie.
- Have a seat, please.Copy !req
589. - Thank you.
- I'm sorry. I gotta make this quick.Copy !req
590. The Democrats are jamming us up
with an important vote.Copy !req
591. Gotta go to the president,
straighten it out.Copy !req
592. Well, governing before politics,
that's my motto.Copy !req
593. - Really?
- No, I'm just kidding.Copy !req
594. Come on. Loosen up, Arnie.Copy !req
595. Everyone on TV tonight
is saying that this meeting...Copy !req
596. is about the vice presidency.Copy !req
597. Well, they're right for once.Copy !req
598. - Did you offer it to Butler?
- No.Copy !req
599. Good. I don't wanna be
anybody's second choice.Copy !req
600. You've seen this problem develop today
about my going to church.Copy !req
601. - You mean, not going to church.
- Yeah.Copy !req
602. That's all right.
I go enough for both of us.Copy !req
603. I've been reading about your positions
on a lot of things.Copy !req
604. But there are
some environmental issues...Copy !req
605. you haven't dealt
with in West Virginia.Copy !req
606. Here's the deal with the issues, Arnie.Copy !req
607. I can get in line with you
on everything except abortion.Copy !req
608. Nothing's gonna make me
change my mind on that.Copy !req
609. But I'm guessing
you wouldn't want me to.Copy !req
610. Toby, do you have a copy of the...?Copy !req
611. The president's waiting for you,
senator.Copy !req
612. Mr. President, I'd hate to think that
you were consulted by Democrats...Copy !req
613. about doing something
as irresponsible...Copy !req
614. as playing games
with the debt ceiling.Copy !req
615. Have a seat.Copy !req
616. But I'd like to think
they'd follow your leadership...Copy !req
617. if we could agree on a way
out of this mess.Copy !req
618. - You came to the right place.
- Good.Copy !req
619. What did you have in mind?Copy !req
620. Democrats withdraw
the minimum-wage amendment...Copy !req
621. from the debt-ceiling bill.
You pass the bill...Copy !req
622. then you give them a vote
on the minimum wage.Copy !req
623. You'll lose on the minimum wage.Copy !req
624. We might be able to shame enough
Republicans into doing the right thing...Copy !req
625. in an election year.Copy !req
626. How about you withdraw
the minimum-wage amendment...Copy !req
627. we pass the debt ceiling clean...Copy !req
628. and I round up enough Republican votes
to pass the minimum-wage increase.Copy !req
629. You can get that done?Copy !req
630. We have Republican senators
in seven states...Copy !req
631. with higher minimum wages
than the federal level.Copy !req
632. California, it's a buck-50 higher.Copy !req
633. We don't want jobs moving
to lower-wage states.Copy !req
634. I can get you the votes.Copy !req
635. - What do you want from me?
- I announce the deal.Copy !req
636. Democratic candidates for president
wouldn't be happy...Copy !req
637. watching you take credit for this.Copy !req
638. Well, then let them pass
the debt ceiling for you...Copy !req
639. and get you the
minimum-wage increase.Copy !req
640. Anything else?Copy !req
641. - Help me keep a secret.
- What's that?Copy !req
642. That I just gave you
more than you asked for.Copy !req
643. Let me hang around for a while...Copy !req
644. as if we're really slugging it out
in here.Copy !req
645. Can I get you anything?Copy !req
646. Where's the ice cream?Copy !req
647. I think I could live on coffee ice cream.Copy !req
648. Hardest thing about this job is knowing
this stash is down here 24 hours a day.Copy !req
649. - How's your health?
- Good days and bad days.Copy !req
650. Good days aren't as good
as they used to be.Copy !req
651. Kind of like a speeded-up
version of aging.Copy !req
652. - You've had better days, huh?
- Yeah.Copy !req
653. Whatever happened to separation
of church and state?Copy !req
654. It's hanging in there, but I'm afraid
the Constitution doesn't say anything...Copy !req
655. about the separation of church
and politics.Copy !req
656. You saying that's a good thing?Copy !req
657. I'm saying it's the way it is.
Always has been.Copy !req
658. You think the voter really needs
to know if I go to church?Copy !req
659. I don't need to know, but then I'm
not gonna vote for you anyway.Copy !req
660. It's not up to us to decide...Copy !req
661. what the voters get to use
in evaluating us.Copy !req
662. A little odd coming from someone...Copy !req
663. who wasn't exactly completely open
about his health.Copy !req
664. - That was a big mistake.
- Was it?Copy !req
665. What did we know about
Lincoln's health when he was running?Copy !req
666. Nothing.Copy !req
667. Washington, Jefferson.Copy !req
668. What about FDR's health?Copy !req
669. And when he died in office,
did people say:Copy !req
670. "Gee, why didn't he tell us
he was sick?" No.Copy !req
671. Did they say,
"I wish I didn't vote for him"?Copy !req
672. No.Copy !req
673. I don't know how you plan to handle
this religious thing in the campaign.Copy !req
674. Yeah, well, that makes two of us.Copy !req
675. I could let it slip that I think
a candidate's religion...Copy !req
676. or how often he goes to church
isn't relevant to choosing a president.Copy !req
677. You'll say that on the way
into church?Copy !req
678. Are you accusing me
of politicizing churchgoing?Copy !req
679. You've had an awful lot of photo ops
on the church steps.Copy !req
680. I went to Mass every Sunday
long before I went into politics.Copy !req
681. I did too.Copy !req
682. Why'd you stop?Copy !req
683. One Christmas, my wife gave me a
very old edition of the King James Bible.Copy !req
684. Seventeenth century.Copy !req
685. It was a real find for a book collector.Copy !req
686. It was a thrill just to hold it.
Then I read it.Copy !req
687. You can't take it literally.Copy !req
688. That's what my priest friends
kept telling me.Copy !req
689. But the more I read it,
the less I could believe.Copy !req
690. I could not believe there was a God...Copy !req
691. who said that the penalty
for working on the Sabbath was death.Copy !req
692. I couldn't believe there was a God...Copy !req
693. who said the penalty
for adultery was death.Copy !req
694. I'm more of a New Testament man
myself.Copy !req
695. I couldn't believe that there was a God
who had no penalty for slavery.Copy !req
696. The Bible has no problem
with slavery at all.Copy !req
697. Lincoln could have used
a little help from the Bible.Copy !req
698. You think Lincoln was an atheist?Copy !req
699. I hope not.Copy !req
700. That would mean all his references
to God were just purely political.Copy !req
701. He didn't make any until he started
running for office.Copy !req
702. No, and he certainly was a doubter.Copy !req
703. What about you?Copy !req
704. You gonna try to save my soul?Copy !req
705. Sorry.Copy !req
706. Let's just say I struggled
for a long time with that book.Copy !req
707. Finally, I just gave up the struggle.Copy !req
708. The only thing you can pray for
in this job...Copy !req
709. is the strength
to get through the day.Copy !req
710. You can try coffee if you want,
but prayer works better for me.Copy !req
711. Try the pistachio.Copy !req
712. Yes. We have reached an agreement
on the debt-ceiling bill.Copy !req
713. We will pass it within the hour
and send it to the president...Copy !req
714. for his signature before midnight.Copy !req
715. The minimum-wage amendment?Copy !req
716. We have a separate vote on the
minimum-wage increase tomorrow.Copy !req
717. - Is it gonna pass?
- Yes, it will.Copy !req
718. I'll vote for it.Copy !req
719. There'll be more than enough
bipartisan support to pass it.Copy !req
720. Are you reconsidering Reverend Butler's
invitation to his church this weekend?Copy !req
721. I fully respect
Reverend Butler's position.Copy !req
722. I mean, I appreciate his invitation,
and...Copy !req
723. Look, I respect Reverend Butler.Copy !req
724. And I respect his church too much
to use it for my own political purposes.Copy !req
725. That's exactly what I'd be doing
if I went there this Sunday.Copy !req
726. Because the truth is, it would just be
an act of political phoniness.Copy !req
727. I may be wrong...Copy !req
728. but I suspect our churches already
have enough political phonies in them.Copy !req
729. Senator, do you or do you not...?Copy !req
730. You can't have a separation
of church and state...Copy !req
731. if you have to pass a religious test
to get in this government.Copy !req
732. And I wanna warn everyone in the press
and all the voters out there...Copy !req
733. if you demand expressions
of religious faith from politicians...Copy !req
734. you are just begging to be lied to.Copy !req
735. They won't all lie to you,
but a lot of them will.Copy !req
736. It'll be the easiest lie they had to tell
to get your votes.Copy !req
737. So every day until the end
of this campaign...Copy !req
738. I'll answer any question anyone has
on government.Copy !req
739. But if you have a question on religion,
please, go to church. Thank you.Copy !req
740. Senator. Senator Vinick. Senator.Copy !req