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