Does Mayor Pete Buttigieg Have An “Obama Path” To Beating Trump? | The Beat With Ari Melber | MSNBC

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>>> TONIGHT WE ARE LAUNCHING A
>>> TONIGHT WE ARE LAUNCHING A NEW SERIES ON "THE BEAT", BACK
NEW SERIES ON "THE BEAT", BACK STORY, OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE
STORY, OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE DEEP REPORTING AND MORE BACK
DEEP REPORTING AND MORE BACK STORY ABOUT ONE OF THE PEOPLE
STORY ABOUT ONE OF THE PEOPLE RUNNING FROM PRESIDENT IN EACH
RUNNING FROM PRESIDENT IN EACH STALLMENT.
STALLMENT. IT’S A -- EACH INSTALLMENT.
IT’S A -- EACH INSTALLMENT. BY LOOKING AT EACH CANDIDATE, IT
BY LOOKING AT EACH CANDIDATE, IT AIMS TO PUT SUBSTANCE AND
AIMS TO PUT SUBSTANCE AND CONTENT ABOVE ELECTION COVERAGE,
CONTENT ABOVE ELECTION COVERAGE, IN UNRELIABLE EARLY POLLING.
IN UNRELIABLE EARLY POLLING. IN THE COMING WEEKS, WE’RE GOING
IN THE COMING WEEKS, WE’RE GOING TO ZERO IN ON A RANGE OF
TO ZERO IN ON A RANGE OF CANDIDATES, LIKE KAMALA HARRIS,
CANDIDATES, LIKE KAMALA HARRIS, ELIZABETH WARREN.
ELIZABETH WARREN. TONIGHT WE BEGIN WITH A LOOK AT
TONIGHT WE BEGIN WITH A LOOK AT A CONTENDER WITH AN UNUSUAL
A CONTENDER WITH AN UNUSUAL PROFILE, THE 37-YEAR-OLD LEADER
PROFILE, THE 37-YEAR-OLD LEADER OF A TOWN OF JUST OVER A HUNDRED
OF A TOWN OF JUST OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO ONLY
THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO ONLY RECENTLY BECAME WELL KNOWN
RECENTLY BECAME WELL KNOWN ENOUGH THAT PEOPLE ARE STARTING
ENOUGH THAT PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO GET HIS NAME RIGHT.
TO GET HIS NAME RIGHT. >> THIS GUY NAMED PETE WHOSE
>> THIS GUY NAMED PETE WHOSE LAST NAME NOBODY CAN PRONOUNCE,
LAST NAME NOBODY CAN PRONOUNCE, THE MAYOR OF SOUTH BEND INDIANA.
THE MAYOR OF SOUTH BEND INDIANA. >> I’M GOING TO TRY TO PRONOUNCE
>> I’M GOING TO TRY TO PRONOUNCE THIS MAYOR’S NAME.
THIS MAYOR’S NAME. >> PETE BUTTIGIEG.
>> PETE BUTTIGIEG. >> THE MAYOR OF SOUTH BEND, PETE
>> THE MAYOR OF SOUTH BEND, PETE BUTTIGIEG.
BUTTIGIEG. >> THAT’S CLOSE, BUTTIGIEG,
>> THAT’S CLOSE, BUTTIGIEG, RIGHT?
RIGHT? >> PETE BUTTIGIEG.
>> PETE BUTTIGIEG. >> HOW DO YOU SAY YOUR NAME,
>> HOW DO YOU SAY YOUR NAME, WHAT IS THE CORRECT
WHAT IS THE CORRECT PRONOUNCEUATION OFPRONUNS
PRONOUNCEUATION OFPRONUNS NATION --
NATION -- PRONUNCIATION OF YOUR NAME.
PRONUNCIATION OF YOUR NAME. >> PETE.
>> PETE. >> PETE JUMPED INTO A RACE
>> PETE JUMPED INTO A RACE AGAINST FAR MORE EXPERIENCED
AGAINST FAR MORE EXPERIENCED CANDIDATES TO TRY TO BE THE FACE
CANDIDATES TO TRY TO BE THE FACE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. DO YOU REMEMBER THAT BID?
DO YOU REMEMBER THAT BID? IT WASN’T THIS RACE FOR
IT WASN’T THIS RACE FOR PRESIDENT OR FOR CONGRESS, IT
PRESIDENT OR FOR CONGRESS, IT WAS A CONTEST TO RUN THE PARTY
WAS A CONTEST TO RUN THE PARTY ITSELF, THE TOP POST AT THE DNC
ITSELF, THE TOP POST AT THE DNC CHANGED HANDS AFTER RUSSIAN
CHANGED HANDS AFTER RUSSIAN HACKERS BOOSTING TRUMP HAD
HACKERS BOOSTING TRUMP HAD RELEASED STOLEN E-MAILS
RELEASED STOLEN E-MAILS UNDERCUTTING THEN DNC CHAIR DEB
UNDERCUTTING THEN DNC CHAIR DEB DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ AT THE
DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ AT THE 2016 CONVENTION.
2016 CONVENTION. SHE RESIGNED, BAKE A TEMPORARY
SHE RESIGNED, BAKE A TEMPORARY CHAIR IN THAT ELECTION, LEAVING
CHAIR IN THAT ELECTION, LEAVING A VACANT SEAT, HOW TO FILL IN
A VACANT SEAT, HOW TO FILL IN JANUARY 2017.
JANUARY 2017. THE TOP CONTENDERS WERE FORMER
THE TOP CONTENDERS WERE FORMER OBAMA OFFICIAL, TOM PEREZ, WHO
OBAMA OFFICIAL, TOM PEREZ, WHO WON, LIBERAL CONGRESSMAN KEITH
WON, LIBERAL CONGRESSMAN KEITH ELLISON, BUT IN THAT PIVOTAL
ELLISON, BUT IN THAT PIVOTAL DEBATE OVER WHO SHOULD LEAD THE
DEBATE OVER WHO SHOULD LEAD THE PARTY IN THE WAKE OF TRUMP’S
PARTY IN THE WAKE OF TRUMP’S WIN, ANOTHER OBSCURE CANDIDATE
WIN, ANOTHER OBSCURE CANDIDATE JUMPED IN.
JUMPED IN. >> I’M PETE BUTTIGIEG, AND I’M
>> I’M PETE BUTTIGIEG, AND I’M THE MAYOR HERE IN SOUTH BEND,
THE MAYOR HERE IN SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, I’M ASKING YOU TO JOIN
INDIANA, I’M ASKING YOU TO JOIN ME AS I RUN FOR CHAIR OF THE
ME AS I RUN FOR CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND TOGETHER
DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND TOGETHER WE WILL WRITE A NEW TURN AROUND
WE WILL WRITE A NEW TURN AROUND STORY.
STORY. >> THAT OBSCURE MAYOR SAW
>> THAT OBSCURE MAYOR SAW HIMSELF AS THE PERSON TO TAKE ON
HIMSELF AS THE PERSON TO TAKE ON AND TAKE OVER THE REINS OF THE
AND TAKE OVER THE REINS OF THE PARTY FOR THE TRUMP ERA.
PARTY FOR THE TRUMP ERA. >> IF THE OUTCOME OF THIS DNC
>> IF THE OUTCOME OF THIS DNC CHAIR RACE IS THAT HALF THE
CHAIR RACE IS THAT HALF THE PARTY FEELS LIKE IT’S JUST BEEN
PARTY FEELS LIKE IT’S JUST BEEN SENT PACKING, WE’RE GOING TO BE
SENT PACKING, WE’RE GOING TO BE THAT MUCH FURTHER ON A BACK FOOT
THAT MUCH FURTHER ON A BACK FOOT DEALING WITH THE REAL OPPOSITION
DEALING WITH THE REAL OPPOSITION WHICH IS TRUMP AND THE
WHICH IS TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION.
REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION. >> WHY WOULDN’T YOU PUT IN
>> WHY WOULDN’T YOU PUT IN SOMEBODY WHO’S FROM THE
SOMEBODY WHO’S FROM THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION, RUNNING
MILLENNIAL GENERATION, RUNNING AND WINNING IN A BRIGHT RED
AND WINNING IN A BRIGHT RED STATE LIKE INDIANA, AND A MAYOR
STATE LIKE INDIANA, AND A MAYOR WHOSE BREAD AND BUTTER IS STATE
WHOSE BREAD AND BUTTER IS STATE AND LOCAL POLITICAL ORGANIZING.
AND LOCAL POLITICAL ORGANIZING. >> PARTY CHAIRS ARE USUALLY IN
>> PARTY CHAIRS ARE USUALLY IN AFFAIRS, 2017 WAS A LITTLE
AFFAIRS, 2017 WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
DIFFERENT. THE PARTY LEADERSHIP WAS
THE PARTY LEADERSHIP WAS UNDERMINED BY SOME OF THE
UNDERMINED BY SOME OF THE CONTENT IN THE E-MAILS, HACKED
CONTENT IN THE E-MAILS, HACKED BY THE RUSSIANS AND SHOCKED BY
BY THE RUSSIANS AND SHOCKED BY TRUMP’S WIN, AND THERE WAS MORE
TRUMP’S WIN, AND THERE WAS MORE ATTENTION ON THE DNC RACE AS A
ATTENTION ON THE DNC RACE AS A PROXY ON HOW TO TAKE ON TRUMP.
PROXY ON HOW TO TAKE ON TRUMP. >> THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS TO
>> THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS TO TAKE THE FIGHT TO DONALD TRUMP.
TAKE THE FIGHT TO DONALD TRUMP. WHEN WE LEAD WITH OUR VALUES,
WHEN WE LEAD WITH OUR VALUES, WHEN WE LEAD WITH OUR
WHEN WE LEAD WITH OUR CONVICTION, THAT’S HOW WE
CONVICTION, THAT’S HOW WE SUCCEED.
SUCCEED. >> DONALD TRUMP HAS ALREADY
>> DONALD TRUMP HAS ALREADY BROUGHT FLAT OUR WAY.
BROUGHT FLAT OUR WAY. WE CAN ACTUALLY HELP DEMOCRATS
WE CAN ACTUALLY HELP DEMOCRATS WIN ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, SO
WIN ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, SO THAT WE CAN GET RID OF DONALD
THAT WE CAN GET RID OF DONALD TRUMP.
TRUMP. >> DONALD TRUMP’S GOTTEN TO BE
>> DONALD TRUMP’S GOTTEN TO BE LIKE A COMPUTER VIRUS IN THE
LIKE A COMPUTER VIRUS IN THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM.
AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM. HE TIES UP OUR MINDS AND OUR
HE TIES UP OUR MINDS AND OUR PROCESSING POWER WITH THESE
PROCESSING POWER WITH THESE EQUATIONS THAT DON’T EVEN HAVE
EQUATIONS THAT DON’T EVEN HAVE ANY SOLUTIONS UNTIL THE SYSTEM
ANY SOLUTIONS UNTIL THE SYSTEM OVERHEATS AND BREAKS DOWN.
OVERHEATS AND BREAKS DOWN. >> THAT RACE FOCUSED ON THOSE
>> THAT RACE FOCUSED ON THOSE FIRST TWO VOICES, AN OBAMA
FIRST TWO VOICES, AN OBAMA ESTABLISHMENT VETERAN, TOM
ESTABLISHMENT VETERAN, TOM PEREZ, KEITH ELLISON, MAYOR PETE
PEREZ, KEITH ELLISON, MAYOR PETE WAS VYING TO BE A KIND OF
WAS VYING TO BE A KIND OF COALITION COMPROMISE CANDIDATE
COALITION COMPROMISE CANDIDATE WHO COULD MAKE TALK TO BOTH
WHO COULD MAKE TALK TO BOTH THOSE WINGS OF THE PARTY AND
THOSE WINGS OF THE PARTY AND ALSO BRING OTHER ATTRIBUTES AS
ALSO BRING OTHER ATTRIBUTES AS AN OPENLY GUY MILLENNIAL MAYOR
AN OPENLY GUY MILLENNIAL MAYOR WITH CREDENTIALS FROM THE
WITH CREDENTIALS FROM THE MILITARY AND HARVARD.
MILITARY AND HARVARD. THAT RACE TURNED COMPLETELY ON
THAT RACE TURNED COMPLETELY ON THE 447 MEMBERS OF THE DNC WHO
THE 447 MEMBERS OF THE DNC WHO VOTE, BUT MAYOR PETE HAD AN
VOTE, BUT MAYOR PETE HAD AN APPROACH THAT APPEALED TO OTHER
APPROACH THAT APPEALED TO OTHER GROUPS THAT DIDN’T HAVE A VOTE,
GROUPS THAT DIDN’T HAVE A VOTE, INCLUDING SOME IN THE PRESS.
INCLUDING SOME IN THE PRESS. REPORTERS DUBBING HIM A ROCK
REPORTERS DUBBING HIM A ROCK STAR AT THE TIME WHO MIGHT HAVE
STAR AT THE TIME WHO MIGHT HAVE LACKED THE CREDIBILITY OF A
LACKED THE CREDIBILITY OF A SERIOUS CHALLENGER BUT RAISED
SERIOUS CHALLENGER BUT RAISED HIS NATIONAL PROFILE BY RUNNING.
HIS NATIONAL PROFILE BY RUNNING. HE DREW PRESS ATTENTION IN KEY
HE DREW PRESS ATTENTION IN KEY DEMOCRATIC STATES LIKE
DEMOCRATIC STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA, ONE COMPETITOR NOTED
CALIFORNIA, ONE COMPETITOR NOTED PETE COULD GO VIRAL, EVEN THOUGH
PETE COULD GO VIRAL, EVEN THOUGH HE HAD LESS ACTUAL VOTING
HE HAD LESS ACTUAL VOTING SUPPORT IN THE DNC.
SUPPORT IN THE DNC. HOW DID BUTTIGIEG ACTUALLY FARE
HOW DID BUTTIGIEG ACTUALLY FARE IN THAT RACE, WE KNOW HE LOST
IN THAT RACE, WE KNOW HE LOST BECAUSE IT’S CHAIRMAN TOM PEREZ
BECAUSE IT’S CHAIRMAN TOM PEREZ WE SEE ON THAT STAGE,
WE SEE ON THAT STAGE, INTRODUCING THESE DEBATES THIS
INTRODUCING THESE DEBATES THIS YEAR WITH BUTTIGIEG OVER AT THE
YEAR WITH BUTTIGIEG OVER AT THE LECTERN WITH THE CANDIDATES, BUT
LECTERN WITH THE CANDIDATES, BUT HOW DID HE LOSE, WAS IT CLOSE,
HOW DID HE LOSE, WAS IT CLOSE, DID HE HAVE A WING IN THE PARTY,
DID HE HAVE A WING IN THE PARTY, 20%, 10?
20%, 10? NO, BUTTIGIEG DRAMATICALLY
NO, BUTTIGIEG DRAMATICALLY DROPPED OUT OF THE RACE THE VERY
DROPPED OUT OF THE RACE THE VERY MORNING OF THAT VOTE.
MORNING OF THAT VOTE. >> THIS GUY NAMED PETE WHOSE
>> THIS GUY NAMED PETE WHOSE LAST NAME NOBODY CAN PRONOUNCE,
LAST NAME NOBODY CAN PRONOUNCE, THE MAYOR OF SOUTH BEND,
THE MAYOR OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, WAS GOING TO SOME HOW
INDIANA, WAS GOING TO SOME HOW TAKE THE DNC BY STORM AND
TAKE THE DNC BY STORM AND SURPRISE EVERYBODY.
SURPRISE EVERYBODY. HE WITHDRAWS DURING HIS
HE WITHDRAWS DURING HIS NOMINATION.
NOMINATION. >> HE WAS GOING TO BE THE GUY.
>> HE WAS GOING TO BE THE GUY. >> AND THE PARTY WENT WITH PEREZ
>> AND THE PARTY WENT WITH PEREZ OVER ELLISON, 235 TO 200.
OVER ELLISON, 235 TO 200. POLITICO REPORTED BUTTIGIEG DID
POLITICO REPORTED BUTTIGIEG DID THE MATH, HE DIDN’T HAVE THE
THE MATH, HE DIDN’T HAVE THE NEEDED SUPPORT AND SO HE DIDN’T
NEEDED SUPPORT AND SO HE DIDN’T STAY IN THE RACE.
STAY IN THE RACE. THAT WAS BUTTIGIEG’S LAST BIG
THAT WAS BUTTIGIEG’S LAST BIG CAMPAIGN.
CAMPAIGN. TODAY, MANY DEMOCRATS MIGHT NOT
TODAY, MANY DEMOCRATS MIGHT NOT EVEN REMEMBER IT BUT WHAT DOES
EVEN REMEMBER IT BUT WHAT DOES IT REVEAL ABOUT HIM AND HIS
IT REVEAL ABOUT HIM AND HIS CANDIDACY.
CANDIDACY. FIRST, EVEN WITH WIDE AGREEMENT,
FIRST, EVEN WITH WIDE AGREEMENT, HE WAS NEW AND LESS EXPERIENCED
HE WAS NEW AND LESS EXPERIENCED BUT MAYOR PETE DID FIND WAYS TO
BUT MAYOR PETE DID FIND WAYS TO BREAKTHROUGH AND WIN OVER PARTY
BREAKTHROUGH AND WIN OVER PARTY ELITES, THAT WAS PART OF HIS
ELITES, THAT WAS PART OF HIS BUZZ IN 2017, PART OF HIS
BUZZ IN 2017, PART OF HIS FUNDRAISING NOW.
FUNDRAISING NOW. THE SECOND THING IS SOMETHING
THE SECOND THING IS SOMETHING THAT DOES APPLY TO ALL KINDS OF
THAT DOES APPLY TO ALL KINDS OF POLITICIANS BUT IS PRONOUNCED
POLITICIANS BUT IS PRONOUNCED HERE.
HERE. HE IS AMBITIOUSLY AUDACIOUS.
HE IS AMBITIOUSLY AUDACIOUS. WHEN MAYOR PETE JUMPED IN THE
WHEN MAYOR PETE JUMPED IN THE RACE IN 2017, HE DIDN’T HAVE THE
RACE IN 2017, HE DIDN’T HAVE THE PROMINENCE OF EXPERIENCE
PROMINENCE OF EXPERIENCE TRADITIONALLY REQUIRED TO RUN A
TRADITIONALLY REQUIRED TO RUN A PARTY, TAKING ON A NEW
PARTY, TAKING ON A NEW PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT. BY THE END OF THE RACE, DNC
BY THE END OF THE RACE, DNC VOTERS STILL DIDN’T THINK HE HAD
VOTERS STILL DIDN’T THINK HE HAD IT BUT HE’S THE ONE NOW RUNNING
IT BUT HE’S THE ONE NOW RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.
FOR PRESIDENT. THINK ABOUT THAT, AND CONTRAST
THINK ABOUT THAT, AND CONTRAST IT TO THESE OTHER DEMOCRATS IN
IT TO THESE OTHER DEMOCRATS IN THE RACE.
THE RACE. PEREZ WON AND IS RUNNING THE
PEREZ WON AND IS RUNNING THE PARTY, NOT SEEKING A PROMOTION
PARTY, NOT SEEKING A PROMOTION TO THE WHITE HOUSE.
TO THE WHITE HOUSE. ELLISON, A MEMBER OF CONGRESS
ELLISON, A MEMBER OF CONGRESS LOST AND DIDN’T SEEK THE WHITE
LOST AND DIDN’T SEEK THE WHITE HOUSE, HE WENT ON TO BECOME
HOUSE, HE WENT ON TO BECOME MINNESOTA ASSET ATTORNEY
MINNESOTA ASSET ATTORNEY GENERAL.
GENERAL. JAMIE HARRISON, AS STATE PARTY
JAMIE HARRISON, AS STATE PARTY CHAIR LOST, AND IS RUNNING FOR
CHAIR LOST, AND IS RUNNING FOR SENATE, HE WAS ON THE SHOW
SENATE, HE WAS ON THE SHOW TONIGHT BY COINCIDENCE,
TONIGHT BY COINCIDENCE, BUTTIGIEG DECIDED THE NEXT STEP
BUTTIGIEG DECIDED THE NEXT STEP WASN’T RUNNING FOR STATE OFFICE
WASN’T RUNNING FOR STATE OFFICE OR SENATE, BUT RUNNING FOR
OR SENATE, BUT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT. NO ONE ELSE IN THAT RACE THOUGHT
NO ONE ELSE IN THAT RACE THOUGHT THEIR NEXT MOVE SHOULD BE THE
THEIR NEXT MOVE SHOULD BE THE WHITE HOUSE, NOT EVEN THE
WHITE HOUSE, NOT EVEN THE 55-YEAR-OLD FORMER CANDIDATE
55-YEAR-OLD FORMER CANDIDATE OFFICIAL WHO WON THAT RACE, NO
OFFICIAL WHO WON THAT RACE, NO ONE EXCEPT MAYOR PETE.
ONE EXCEPT MAYOR PETE. NOW, WHAT ARE WE TO MAKE OF THAT
NOW, WHAT ARE WE TO MAKE OF THAT AMBITION, WHO GETS BEAT AT ONE
AMBITION, WHO GETS BEAT AT ONE RACE, AND INSTEAD OF TAKING TIME
RACE, AND INSTEAD OF TAKING TIME OR RUNNING FOR THE JOB AGAIN,
OR RUNNING FOR THE JOB AGAIN, JUMPS AHEAD TO RUN FOR A
JUMPS AHEAD TO RUN FOR A PROMOTION FOR A MUCH LARGER JOB
PROMOTION FOR A MUCH LARGER JOB AND IS THAT SOMEONE YOU WANT TO
AND IS THAT SOMEONE YOU WANT TO BE PRESIDENT?
BE PRESIDENT? WELL, LET’S NOT ANSWER TOO
WELL, LET’S NOT ANSWER TOO QUICKLY.
QUICKLY. BECAUSE THAT IS A KIND OF
BECAUSE THAT IS A KIND OF POLITICAL AUDACITY THAT MADE ITS
POLITICAL AUDACITY THAT MADE ITS WAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE BEFORE,
WAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE BEFORE, ALL STARTING WHEN AN OBSCURE
ALL STARTING WHEN AN OBSCURE POLITICIAN HOLDING A SMALLER JOB
POLITICIAN HOLDING A SMALLER JOB FOR MAYOR RAN FOR OFFICE AND
FOR MAYOR RAN FOR OFFICE AND LOST, ONLY TO SEEK HIGHER
LOST, ONLY TO SEEK HIGHER OFFICE.
OFFICE. HIS QUEST BEGAN WITH A LONG SHOT
HIS QUEST BEGAN WITH A LONG SHOT PRIMARY AGAINST AN INCUMBENT
PRIMARY AGAINST AN INCUMBENT CONGRESSMAN, BOBBY RUSH, OBAMA
CONGRESSMAN, BOBBY RUSH, OBAMA DEBATING HIS ELDER AND FACING
DEBATING HIS ELDER AND FACING SKEPTICISM.
SKEPTICISM. >> I THINK THAT SENIORITY IS
>> I THINK THAT SENIORITY IS IMPORTANT BUT I THINK VISION AND
IMPORTANT BUT I THINK VISION AND IMAGINATION AND HARD WORK IS
IMAGINATION AND HARD WORK IS MORE IMPORTANT.
MORE IMPORTANT. >> SENATOR BARACK, HE
>> SENATOR BARACK, HE REPRESENTS, HIS DISTRICT HAS
REPRESENTS, HIS DISTRICT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN ENGLEWOOD.
ALWAYS BEEN IN ENGLEWOOD. WHAT HAS HE GOT.
WHAT HAS HE GOT. >> I CAN TELL YOU.
>> I CAN TELL YOU. >> ALL OF A SUDDEN HE CAN DO A
>> ALL OF A SUDDEN HE CAN DO A BETTER JOB.
BETTER JOB. >> THAT MAY LOOK LIKE A
>> THAT MAY LOOK LIKE A DIFFERENT OBAMA THAN MANY SEE
DIFFERENT OBAMA THAN MANY SEE TODAY, AN ACCOMPLISHED FORMER
TODAY, AN ACCOMPLISHED FORMER PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT. THIS WAS A YOUNG ASPIRING
THIS WAS A YOUNG ASPIRING POLITICIAN THAT FEW THOUGHT
POLITICIAN THAT FEW THOUGHT WOULD MAKE IT TO CONGRESS, LET
WOULD MAKE IT TO CONGRESS, LET ALONE THE WHITE HOUSE, DOING THE
ALONE THE WHITE HOUSE, DOING THE LOCAL LEG WORK AND OUTREACH THAT
LOCAL LEG WORK AND OUTREACH THAT SMALL TIME POLLS DO.
SMALL TIME POLLS DO. >> YOU KNOW, THAT IS ONE OF THE
>> YOU KNOW, THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS
THINGS THAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS PLACE, THE PRICES ARE RIGHT AND
PLACE, THE PRICES ARE RIGHT AND THE PORTIONS ARE GOOD.
THE PORTIONS ARE GOOD. >> I ORDERED THE SOUTHERN
>> I ORDERED THE SOUTHERN SAMPLER JUST BECAUSE I COULDN’T
SAMPLER JUST BECAUSE I COULDN’T MAKE UP MY MIND.
MAKE UP MY MIND. I DO HAVE TO PUT IN A PLUG FOR
I DO HAVE TO PUT IN A PLUG FOR THEIR PEACH COBBLER, WHICH
THEIR PEACH COBBLER, WHICH PEOPLE TEND TO GOBBLE UP.
PEOPLE TEND TO GOBBLE UP. >> FACT CHECK, THAT COBBLER DOES
>> FACT CHECK, THAT COBBLER DOES LOOK GOOD.
LOOK GOOD. OBAMA SPENT THOSE YEARS DOING
OBAMA SPENT THOSE YEARS DOING NORMAL REACH OUT POLITICS AND
NORMAL REACH OUT POLITICS AND MADE A GENERATIONAL CHALLENGE TO
MADE A GENERATIONAL CHALLENGE TO CONGRESSMAN RUSH, BUT IT DIDN’T
CONGRESSMAN RUSH, BUT IT DIDN’T MOVE THE DEMOCRATS IN ILLINOIS,
MOVE THE DEMOCRATS IN ILLINOIS, RUSH BEAT OBAMA IN A LANDSLIDE.
RUSH BEAT OBAMA IN A LANDSLIDE. PEOPLE CONCLUDED OBAMA WAS QUOTE
PEOPLE CONCLUDED OBAMA WAS QUOTE TOO MINOR LEAGUE, OVEREDUCATED,
TOO MINOR LEAGUE, OVEREDUCATED, ARROGANT, STIFF, AND OBAMA
ARROGANT, STIFF, AND OBAMA DIDN’T TAKE THAT LOSS BY JUST
DIDN’T TAKE THAT LOSS BY JUST RUNNING FOR THE SAME SEAT AGAIN
RUNNING FOR THE SAME SEAT AGAIN OR SOME OTHER COMPARABLE OFFICE.
OR SOME OTHER COMPARABLE OFFICE. HE TOOK THAT LOSS AS A SIGN TO
HE TOOK THAT LOSS AS A SIGN TO THINK BIGGER AND RUN FOR A MORE
THINK BIGGER AND RUN FOR A MORE EXPENSIVE AND HIGHER OFFICE, THE
EXPENSIVE AND HIGHER OFFICE, THE U.S. SENATE.
U.S. SENATE. >> EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW FEELS
>> EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW FEELS CYNICAL ABOUT THE POLITICAL
CYNICAL ABOUT THE POLITICAL PROCESS.
PROCESS. I THINK THAT THEIR LEADERSHIP
I THINK THAT THEIR LEADERSHIP SEEMS LONG ON RHETORIC BUT SHORT
SEEMS LONG ON RHETORIC BUT SHORT ON SUBSTANCE, POLITICS SEEMS TO
ON SUBSTANCE, POLITICS SEEMS TO BE MORE OF A BUSINESS THAN A
BE MORE OF A BUSINESS THAN A MISSION.
MISSION. THERE’S A SENSE THAT POWER
THERE’S A SENSE THAT POWER ALWAYS TRUMPS PRINCIPAL, BUT I
ALWAYS TRUMPS PRINCIPAL, BUT I TRULY BELIEVE THERE’S ANOTHER
TRULY BELIEVE THERE’S ANOTHER TRADITION IN THIS COUNTRY THAT
TRADITION IN THIS COUNTRY THAT SAYS THAT WE’RE ALL CONNECTED
SAYS THAT WE’RE ALL CONNECTED SOMEHOW.
SOMEHOW. >> I’M BARACK OBAMA, I’M RUNNING
>> I’M BARACK OBAMA, I’M RUNNING FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND
FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND I APROVEREDPROVE THIS MESSAGE TO
I APROVEREDPROVE THIS MESSAGE TO YES, WE CAN.
YES, WE CAN. >> YES, WE CAN, THOSE WORDS MAY
>> YES, WE CAN, THOSE WORDS MAY ECHO IN OUR MINDS AS A PATH TO
ECHO IN OUR MINDS AS A PATH TO THE WHITE HOUSE, AT THE TIME,
THE WHITE HOUSE, AT THE TIME, LOCAL POLITICOS WERE DISMISSIVE
LOCAL POLITICOS WERE DISMISSIVE OF OBAMA SEEKING A PROMOTION
OF OBAMA SEEKING A PROMOTION AFTER A LOSS, NOTING THERE WAS
AFTER A LOSS, NOTING THERE WAS LITTLE REASON TO THINK THE
LITTLE REASON TO THINK THE OBSCURE, STATE SENATOR WOULD
OBSCURE, STATE SENATOR WOULD PREVAIL.
PREVAIL. OBAMA BELIEVED YOU COULD LOSE
OBAMA BELIEVED YOU COULD LOSE SMALL BEFORE WINNING BIG, IF YOU
SMALL BEFORE WINNING BIG, IF YOU PROVE YOUR SUBSTANCE TO VOTERS
PROVE YOUR SUBSTANCE TO VOTERS AND OFFER MORE IN YOUR NEXT RACE
AND OFFER MORE IN YOUR NEXT RACE THAN MERE AMBITION.
THAN MERE AMBITION. HE WAS CERTAINLY TAKING A LEAP
HE WAS CERTAINLY TAKING A LEAP TRYING TO GET A BOUNCE OUT OF A
TRYING TO GET A BOUNCE OUT OF A PRIMARY LOSS TO GO TO THE
PRIMARY LOSS TO GO TO THE SENATE.
SENATE. I’LL VOTERS FOUND HE HAD MORE
I’LL VOTERS FOUND HE HAD MORE THAN JUST POLITICAL DREAMS.
THAN JUST POLITICAL DREAMS. HIS STANCE AGAINST THE IRAQ WAR
HIS STANCE AGAINST THE IRAQ WAR IN CONTRAST TO THE PARTY’S
IN CONTRAST TO THE PARTY’S NOMINEE THAT YEAR, JOHN KERRY
NOMINEE THAT YEAR, JOHN KERRY SUGGESTED THERE WERE AT LEAST
SUGGESTED THERE WERE AT LEAST SOME THINGS HE WOULDN’T
SOME THINGS HE WOULDN’T SACRIFICE FOR SHORT-TERM
SACRIFICE FOR SHORT-TERM AMBITION.
AMBITION. HE MADE AN EXPERIENCED PLUS BY
HE MADE AN EXPERIENCED PLUS BY ARGUING AGAINST POLITICS AS
ARGUING AGAINST POLITICS AS USUAL AND PARTISANSHIP.
USUAL AND PARTISANSHIP. SOUND FAMILIAR?
SOUND FAMILIAR? NOW HE WAS ALSO, WE SHOULD NOTE
NOW HE WAS ALSO, WE SHOULD NOTE IF YOU WANT TO DO THE ANALYSIS,
IF YOU WANT TO DO THE ANALYSIS, HE WAS BLESSED IN THAT’ 0 4
HE WAS BLESSED IN THAT’ 0 4 RACE, ONE -- ’04 RACE, ONE
RACE, ONE -- ’04 RACE, ONE IMPLODED, REPLACED BY ALLEN
IMPLODED, REPLACED BY ALLEN KEYS.
KEYS. MAYOR PETE IS TAKING A LEAP,
MAYOR PETE IS TAKING A LEAP, TELLING DEMOCRATS WHO REJECTED
TELLING DEMOCRATS WHO REJECTED HIM TO RUN THE PARTY THAT HE
HIM TO RUN THE PARTY THAT HE SHOULD NOW RUN THE COUNTRY JUST
SHOULD NOW RUN THE COUNTRY JUST TWO YEARS LATER, AND HE, TO BE
TWO YEARS LATER, AND HE, TO BE CLEAR, HAS LESS CONGRESSIONAL
CLEAR, HAS LESS CONGRESSIONAL EXPERIENCE THAN OBAMA DID WHEN
EXPERIENCE THAN OBAMA DID WHEN HE RAN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE.
HE RAN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE. BOTH THESE CANDIDATES ARE
BOTH THESE CANDIDATES ARE LEANING INTO GENERATION CHANGE,
LEANING INTO GENERATION CHANGE, THOUGH, AS AN APPEAL TO PEOPLE
THOUGH, AS AN APPEAL TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK OF THE WAY THINGS
WHO ARE SICK OF THE WAY THINGS ARE RUNNING NOW.
ARE RUNNING NOW. >> THE TIME IS NOW TO SHAKE OFF
>> THE TIME IS NOW TO SHAKE OFF OUR SLUMBER, AND SLOUGH OFF OUR
OUR SLUMBER, AND SLOUGH OFF OUR FEARS AND NAKMAKE GOOD ON THE DE
FEARS AND NAKMAKE GOOD ON THE DE WE OWE PAST AND FUTURE
WE OWE PAST AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, TODAY, TOGETHER, WE
GENERATIONS, TODAY, TOGETHER, WE CAN FINISH THE WORK THAT NEEDS
CAN FINISH THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND USHER IN A NEW
TO BE DONE, AND USHER IN A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM ON THIS EARTH.
BIRTH OF FREEDOM ON THIS EARTH. >> YOU AND I HAVE THE CHANCE TO
>> YOU AND I HAVE THE CHANCE TO USHER IN A NEW AMERICAN SPRING.
USHER IN A NEW AMERICAN SPRING. SO WITH HOPE IN OUR HEARTS AND
SO WITH HOPE IN OUR HEARTS AND WITH FIRE IN OUR BELLY, LET’S
WITH FIRE IN OUR BELLY, LET’S GET TO WORK, AND LET’S MAKE
GET TO WORK, AND LET’S MAKE HISTORY.
HISTORY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. >> THE POINT HERE IS NOT THAT
>> THE POINT HERE IS NOT THAT MAYOR PETE’S FUTURE WILL FOLLOW
MAYOR PETE’S FUTURE WILL FOLLOW OBAMA’S PAST.
OBAMA’S PAST. NOBODY KNOWS.
NOBODY KNOWS. THE VOTERS, YOU, WILL DECIDE
THE VOTERS, YOU, WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO REWARD OR PUNISH PETE
WHETHER TO REWARD OR PUNISH PETE OR ANY OTHER POLITICIAN’S
OR ANY OTHER POLITICIAN’S AMBITION.
AMBITION. WE KNOW THAT EVEN HUGE AMBITION
WE KNOW THAT EVEN HUGE AMBITION TAKING A LOSS AS A SIGN YOU
TAKING A LOSS AS A SIGN YOU SHOULD GET A PROMOTION IS NOT
SHOULD GET A PROMOTION IS NOT ALWAYS SEEN AS DISQUALIFYING BY
ALWAYS SEEN AS DISQUALIFYING BY THE VOTERS AND SOMETIMES VOTERS
THE VOTERS AND SOMETIMES VOTERS EMBRACE A CALL TO BLOW UP THE
EMBRACE A CALL TO BLOW UP THE WAY THINGS ARE RUN WHEN IT’S
WAY THINGS ARE RUN WHEN IT’S OFFERED BY NEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE