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http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0101/06/se.02.htmlCongressional Black Caucus Protests Electoral Vote Count
Aired January 6, 2001 - 2:00 p.m. ET
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And if you're just joining us, we're going to go straight to the press conference we told you about with the Congressional Black Caucus with regard to the -- all right, we're working on getting audio for you in just a moment. And while we're doing that, I will recap just a bit.
REP. ALCEE HASTINGS (D), FLORIDA: Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Today was a very solemn day, and the remarks are that many of us were not permitted, regretted by us all. Had I been given an opportunity to go forward with an appropriate objection, I would have indicated that because of the overwhelming evidence of official misconduct, deliberate fraud, and an attempt to suppress voter turnout by unlawful means, I felt the necessity -- as do my colleagues from the Congressional Black Caucus, and other members of the House of Representatives -- to object to the kinds of errors against democracy, the holy grail of democracy, that were permitted in the state of Florida.
And we felt that they should not be tolerated, as they would not be tolerated in other countries. Indeed, we should not tolerate them in America.
I would have said to Vice President Gore that Harry Truman once said that what is popular is not always right, and what is right is not always popular. What we were doing here today is right. I hope all of our colleagues and the American people see it that way. And that is why we raised our objection. And it's a proud moment for the conscience of the House of Representatives, for those of us that are representing the entirety of the Congressional Black Caucus, in the presence of our chairlady, and the members here assembled, we stand proudly to say that we did what was right.
JOHNSON: Forty years ago, during the civil rights movement, I marched for justice with a firm belief that my son would not have to march, in order to utilize his voting rights. Much to my dismay, 40 years later, I find myself marching again, but this time for my grandchildren, so that they will not have to march in order to be afforded the same rights.
How long will we settle for injustice in America? How long will we have to fight to perfect the 15th Amendment? How long will we have to struggle for something that should be every American's birthright? On election day, 100 million Americans went to the polls to make their voices heard. Those voices want to be heard still. No hyper- technical manipulation of election laws should derail the intent of the voter.
We cannot sweep under the carpet the claims of first-time college voters who say they registered to vote, had voter registration cards in their hand, but when they were not allowed to vote at the polls, because their names were not on the roll, the lines were busy all over the country, where they tried to call to clarify their registration.
We cannot sweep this under the carpet, the cries of those who were incorrectly removed from the polling places in Florida by an inept Texas company hired by Mr. Bush's brother.
We cannot ignore believable stories of police intimidation, questionable activities by poll workers and simple ineptness by volunteers at the precincts. We cannot ignore what we saw with our own eyes on television: polls closing on voters in St. Louis, un- American voting lines in Pennsylvania and incredibly complex ballots in South Florida.
There is overwhelming evidence that George W. Bush did not win this election, either by national popular vote or the Florida popular vote. As members of Congress charged with defending the constitutional principles of this country, it is our duty to challenge this vote.
<snip>
REP. CARRIE MEEK (D), FLORIDA: We dare not have it repeated. We dare not have the Tilden and the Rutherford Hayes situation repeated again, because it disenfranchised our people at that time.
This will disenfranchise -- it already has -- our people. We don't want that continued. We will always come out. We will always fight. We don't care who is it there.
We are very disappointed that our senators did not stand up and support us today. We helped to elect those senators. They will hear from us again, because we feel very disappointed that they didn't say we want our African-Americans, and our disjointed people who were not able to vote, to have someone in the halls of Congress to say, yes, give them a chance to debate this issue, so that the world could see what is happening here.
We have had our votes nullified. That's why we're so sad. They were nullified by defective voting machines, nullified by discriminantly distributed and targeted machinery, election machinery, in our neighborhoods. The votes were nullified by a purge of voting lists, undertaken by direction from a campaign that retained the equivalent of electoral thugs.
I was there. I saw exactly what happened. I was chased by these thugs. I was called a communist by these thugs, a socialist by these thugs, many of them who were not even citizens of this country. That's what happened in this campaign in Miami-Dade, Florida.
So that we were illegally struck from the voting list by a process that classified thousands of our people as felons. We were nullified again by deals that were cut in cities -- cut by the winning campaign, with our leading authorities in our cities. We were nullified by ballots that were printed in such a way that reasonably thinking citizens could not know for whom they were voting. That's why we're here.
Everyone should have a right to know how they're voting, and for whom they're voting. We were nullified again, by a secretary of state, who has already been given a very big accomplishment by this administration. She authorized her authority to prevent valid votes from being counted. So, it nullified the thing for us.
All that is left for us now, as the Congressional Black Caucus and as citizens of this country, is to exercise our First Amendment rights, while we still have it, and before it is further undermined by a politically dominated Supreme Court.
We exercise that right today to protest against this ill-chosen nomination. We exercise our right to petition our government for our citizenry to receive a redress of grievances. So, I speak for the majority of Americans, particularly African-American Americans, who did not vote for the new president-elect, but who now must live under an administration that appears to award spoils to the victors, even when the electoral process has been so clearly corrupted.
thank you
----
We're going to bring in our congressional correspondent Chris Black once again.
Definitely not business as usual today, Chris.
CHRIS BLACK, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Not exactly. Things were going along as expected. The District of Columbia votes were recorded, and then Chaka Fattah, ironically a member of the black caucus himself but one of the two House tellers working on this Electoral College vote today, got to Florida. He announced the 25 Electoral College votes. Al Gore said, is there an objection? And there were a lot of them. A dozen members of the Congressional Black Caucus, one after the other, rose to their feet to object to the votes from Florida.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AL GORE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For what purpose does the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Deutsch, arise?
REP. PETER DEUTSCH (D), FLORIDA: To make point of order.
GORE: Gentleman will state his point of order.
DEUTSCH: Mr. President, we have just completed the closest election in American history. There are at least...
GORE: The gentleman will suspend. The chair is advised by the parliamentarian that under section 18 of title 3, United States Code, no debate is allowed in the joint session. If the gentleman has a point of order, please state the point of order.
DEUTSCH: Mr. President, there are many Americans who still believe that the results we are going to certify today are illegitimate.
GORE: The gentleman will suspend. If the gentleman from Florida has a point of order, he may state the point of order at this time. Otherwise, the gentleman will suspend.
DEUTSCH: I will note the absence of quorum and respectfully request that we delay the proceedings until quorum is present.
GORE: The chair is advised by the parliamentarian that section 17 of title 3, United States Code, prescribes a single procedure for resolution of either an objection to a certificate or other questions arising in the matter. That includes a point of order that a quorum is not present.
The chair rules on the advice of the parliamentarian that the point order that a quorum is not present is subject to the requirement that it be in writing and signed by both a member of the House of Representatives and a senator. Is the point of order in writing and signed not only by member of the House of representatives, but also a senator?
DEUTSCH: It is in writing, but I do not have a senator.
GORE: The point order may not be received.
HASTINGS: Mr. President, and I take great pride in calling you that, I must object because of the overwhelming evidence of official misconduct, deliberate fraud and an attempt to suppress...
GORE: The chair...
HASTINGS: ... voter turnout.
GORE: The chair must remind members that under session 18 of title 3, United States Code, no debate is allowed in the joint session.
HASTINGS: Thank you, Mr. President.
To answer your question, Mr. President, the objection is in writing, signed by a number of members of the House of Representatives but not by a member of the Senate.
Thank you, Mr. President.
WATERS: I rise to object to the fraudulent 25 Florida electoral votes.
GORE: Is the objection in writing and signed by member of the House and a senator?
WATERS: The objection is in writing, and I don't care that it is not it is not signed by a member of the Senate.
REP. BOB FILNER (D), CALIFORNIA: I have an objection to the electoral votes from Florida.
GORE: Is the objection in writing? Is it signed by a member of the House of Representatives and a senator?
FILNER: No, it is not in writing, but I rise in solidarity with my colleagues who have previously expressed their objection.
GORE: The chair thanks the gentleman from Illinois, but -- hey.
(end of video clip)
BLACK: There were 13 objections in all, 12 from minority group members in the House of Representatives, last one saw was Bob Filner, who's a Democrat from California, a former professor, a big supporter of Al Gore, and clearly was just moved by the emotion of the moment.
They were all gavelled down. It was a great irony for the vice president. Here were some of his biggest supporters in the House of Representatives. He was clearly sympathetic, understood what they were trying to do, but he went right by the book. There was no debate allowed under the law that governs this joint session. There is also -- no objection can be heard unless it is signed by a House member and a senator.
Not a single senator would join members of the Congressional Black Caucus, much to their dismay. About a dozen members of the caucus walked out in protest, to protest the Florida vote, and then had a press conference in the gallery.
<snip>
Autumn
(44,980 posts)Watching that was gut wrenching.
AWFUL. Just AWFUL. Barbara Boxer finally stepped forward in the Senate - the SECOND time. The first time, the caucus was summarily abandoned.
HORRID.
wryter2000
(46,023 posts)It's the part of Fahrenheit911 that always makes me cry. I saw the movie in Oakland, CA, and when our Barbara Lee came on the screen, there was an audible gasp.
Thank heaven Barbara Boxer prevented a replay in 2004. I couldn't have sat through that again.
G_j
(40,366 posts)I would highly recommend that everyone watch that.
malaise
(268,692 posts)Never ever!
deutsey
(20,166 posts)in a long line of sad days beginning on Election Day 2000.
geckosfeet
(9,644 posts)Skittles
(153,111 posts)THE BLACK CAUCUS WAS THE ONLY GROUP IN CONGRESS TO TRULY STAND UP AND SAY *THIS IS WRONG*
mbperrin
(7,672 posts)And ashamed for the rest.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)calimary
(81,103 posts)Not EVER.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)the day of the Bush v Gore verdict stopping the recount in Florida
[font size=3]because counting ALL the votes was unfair to George Bush[/font]
...on THAT day I realized that there was something BAD WRONG with our Democracy.
On the day that not a single Democrat STOOD with the Congressional Black Caucus,
and Al Gore HIMSELF graveled down those protesting the election,
I realized that there was something BAD WRONG inside the Democratic Party.
Everything that has happened since then has confirmed my early realizations.
[font color=firebrick][center]"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will STAND UP for Working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone [/font][/center] [center] [/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center][/font]
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Something remains bad wrong inside the Democratic Party.
We have proven, beyond a doubt that our 2 party democratic system does not work, yet whenever that fact is mentioned, "our democrats?", here on a Democratic site, get pissed and report you for TOS violations.
Orwellian? YES.
bkanderson76
(266 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)raouldukelives
(5,178 posts)Gore was following the law. He did what he believed was right for the country. A senator should have stepped up and signed the damn thing, but Gore was right to follow proper procedure.
Unfortunately, the Bush years were a huge mistake and history will report it that way. The really sad thing is that a dipshit like Bush got enough votes that it was close enough to steal the election. The real depressing thing about all of this is that we have such a huge number of ignorant ass citizens.
That's neither Al Gore's nor the democrats fault.
DRoseDARs
(6,810 posts)eggplant
(3,908 posts)WHEN CRABS ROAR
(3,813 posts)WhaTHellsgoingonhere
(5,252 posts)I had no idea this happened
G_j
(40,366 posts)Last edited Thu Mar 13, 2014, 01:31 AM - Edit history (1)
with Nader leaves me cold.
It's as if this crime and assault on voting and civil rights played an insignificant role in the outcome of the election.
WhaTHellsgoingonhere
(5,252 posts)But now that I mentioned him, I tombstoned your thread.
Sorry
RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)To actually see some People standing up for Truth, Justice, and the American way. Made me decide there might be a chance and that further spending of my personal political and monetary capital would prove to make change happen.
And change did happen.
Just not enough of it. I figured in 2004, the error would be washed away in a sea of votes. But that didn't pan out so well, eh?
I don't like sledding downhill over rocks. But that's what we are doing. That big thing just ahead? Why, that's the bottom big rock, and we're gaining speed.
Gore won in 2000. We lost.
WhaTHellsgoingonhere
(5,252 posts)...would tear the country apart when we needed to fall in line) it got worse!
and when we took office in 2009, Pelosi rolls over immediately and says BushCo gets carte blanche on crimes against humanity.
Is this not the dumbest fucking Party ever?!
calimary
(81,103 posts)I will never forget THAT, either. WHY, Nancy? So they'll remember and play nice with us next time? Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME????????
kentuck
(111,052 posts)It's time to right the terrible wrong that was done to our country in 2000.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)because I thought NO ONE had even tried to stop the certification of the theft of the 2000 Election by the USSC.
This poignant question from Hastings has been answered, sadly, over the past dozen years or so:
It appears that while at one time we had hope that it would not be tolerated for long, now that hope has all but gone. What shocked us then, is being presented as 'law' today not just from the Right, but sadly, even right here on what was once a bastion of demanding that the very foundation of this democracy be defended and protected.
Just today I was told that spying on the American people is just fine, we should expect it, it is the LAW. And the law cited was the infamous, at least to Democratic voters, FISA Bill amendment.
In some ways bad as it was back then, we had hope, today, anyone who stands FOR the Rule of Law, is called a CT.
So long Democracy, it went without even a whimper in the end
byronius
(7,391 posts)Fucking awful crime. And they're still at it.
Al Gore is technically STILL PRESIDENT. I count it as the most treasonous act in American history.
Boomerproud
(7,940 posts)We will never see this unless we watch Michael Moore's film. Other media will never investigate this atrocity against democracy and freedom.
northoftheborder
(7,569 posts)(Not the actions of the Black Caucus), but I mean the choosing of the President by the Supremes. And, the fact that most people I knew just accepted it.
BelgianMadCow
(5,379 posts)and of course that moment is still fixed in my mind. I'd even say it was my political "awakening".
DRoseDARs
(6,810 posts)...spitting onto his comb and slicking back his hair. The audience recoiled in disgust.
dotymed
(5,610 posts)How can any rational person acknowledge this history and still believe the "official version" of 9-11?
freebrew
(1,917 posts)BelgianMadCow
(5,379 posts)it's glaringly obvious. We've had sen. Graham come out about the link with Saudi, and now again: silence. I guess in 20 or 50 years time we might start discussing it publicly.
senseandsensibility
(16,929 posts)Hated watching it, and it still brings a tear to my eye. Their courage will not be forgotten by me, anyway. I know that we will not be reminded of this by the corporate media. It certainly was swept under the rug by them quickly, wasn't it? Ra, Ra, dubya, and all that.
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)time and I was so proud of her and of the entire CBC, I called each and every one of them to thank them for representing the voters of the United States of America in the face of the indifferent Senate and the incomprehensible Al Gore.
I doubt I will ever forgive the US Senate. Not to mention the SCOTUS, Florida, Bush, Cheney, Jeb, Katherine Harris.....
niyad
(113,049 posts)neverforget
(9,436 posts)2000 Election. Still pisses me off.
G_j
(40,366 posts)in the face of all the recent voter suppression legislation across the country, along with redistricting, our "forgetfulness" may be something to truly regret.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)I regret 2014 already.
lastlib
(23,149 posts)... the Florida piece of a U.S.-map jigsaw puzzle taped to the upper corner of my monitor. It reminds me every single day of this grand theft-election perpetrated against the American people by the forces of evil. It's never coming down.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)Forget!? OMG. It still makes me seeth.
NBachers
(17,080 posts)Nu-Republican Lite pseudo Democratic blubbering pants-wetters are crumbling and disintegrating again. I got a baad feeling . . .
xxqqqzme
(14,887 posts)heart.
AND I'm still not over it!
heaven05
(18,124 posts)and it's still in effect. Last 6 years, nothing of substance achieved for the people of the United State because of racist, ignorant right wing troglodytes led by ryan, issa, cruz enabled by mconnell. In fact a lot of our rights and civil liberies have been taken away. Their is no common's area for the people any more except sites like this. We need to move the conversation, as exhibited by this and other sites like this, outside. Only masses of bodies talking of the need to change will make any difference. 'Stop Thief' Peter Linebaugh.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)And, had been watching the whole Florida Recount and all of it. I never got over it to this day. It was a betrayal of everything I had been taught to believe about our election system.
Sadly, that "Selection" of Bush as President, decided by the Supreme Court, was the first clue as to where we were headed in this country in the following years...to this very day.
myrna minx
(22,772 posts)Jamastiene
(38,187 posts)Beyond shameful. It was a travesty of justice.
valerief
(53,235 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)mountain grammy
(26,598 posts)Then, to have people say "can you imagine Gore as president on 9/11/2001?" to which I always answered, "yes, it would have been just another day in the world."
RoccoR5955
(12,471 posts)oligarchy.
A year and two thirds later, we had become a total Police State.
Now it's complete, with surveillance of all the people.
We have become a nation of the corporations, WE THE PEOPLE have to fight and take back our country!
colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)It was brazen. The disenfranchising of countless people because they had a name similar to a felon led it off. Most of those folks were black.
Then there was the screwed up butterfly ballot in that one mostly Jewish area, where many thousands trying to vote for Gore got their vote attributed to someone they'd never vote for, Pat Buchanan.
Florida's governor was Dubya's brother, his campaign manager for the state was Florida's lead election official. Oh yeah , that's fair.
There is no doubt Gore won the popular vote. He also, in the end, won Florida and thus electorally under any chad scenario, in spite of the earlier shenanigans. That would have been clear had the recount not been stopped by the Supremes.
Gore of course is partly to blame because in spite of how razor thin the margin appeared he rushed to concede ASAP then had to recant.
This was a U.S coup, an installation. Had this been on the up and up how many Americans and others around the world, who are now dead or maimed, how many would be alive and whole in 2014. It makes me furious.