LIEBERMAN: Al Gore and I have felt for a long time that we cannot let America’s parents stand alone in this competition that they feel they’re in with Hollywood to raise their own kids. John McCain and I requested the report that proved conclusively that the entertainment industry is marketing adult-rated products to our children. When that report came out, Al Gore and I said to the industry, “Stop it. And if you don’t stop it in six months, we’re going to ask the FTC to take action against you.” Al Gore and I agree on most everything. We disagree on some things, and I have not changed a single position since Al Gore nominated me.
A: I can recall some other presidents, Thomas Jefferson, who emerged from a very complicated, convoluted process, [to become] an enormously successful president. So I think there’s evidence on both sides. It will be up to what we do with it. It’ll be obviously a challenge in part to how well we govern, to our ability to build bridges to the opposition, whether the country will come together.
I think the prognosis is pretty good, because I don’t believe the country is deeply divided. I think this is a time of relative peace and prosperity in America, that we should be able to pull together. We are united as a people. It’s going to be hard, but I think the notion that somehow it’s doomed, or that the next administration is bound to be only a one-term administration, I don’t think that’s a valid judgment. I don’t think anybody can make that forecast
A: I don’t want to get personal about Al Gore. I think all of us understand how difficult this is for him. With the enormous investment he made in the campaign, it would be hard for anybody to go through that process. I do think it’s time for him to concede. So far he’s chosen not to do that, and clearly that’s his prerogative. But I think history would regard him in a better light if he were to bring this to a close in the very near future.
A: I’m back to work full time.
Q: What about stress in the future?
A: I was under considerably more stress during the Gulf War. It was a very mild heart attack. The definition of a heart attack has been changed.
Q: What if you can’t handle the job due to health?
A: We made a great deal of information available, [more than in] the history of Vice Presidential candidates. People looked at my health before I signed onto the ticket. It was a major consideration, and doctors gave me a clean bill of health. If I ever reach the point where I do have serious health problems, then obviously I’d step down. But I don’t think I’m going to reach that point.
A: We’ve had a count and a recount - it’s time to wrap this up. Gore will challenge, for the first time in history, a presidential election in the courts.
Q: What about Gore’s charge that thousands of votes haven’t been counted?
A: All these votes have been counted. They’re asking the courts to intervene to count [more votes] in Democratic counties. They’ve already been counted twice by machine.
Q: Bush agreed with a Texas law that said manual recounts are valid.
A: There’s a big difference. In Texas, the law defines the standards under which a manual recount will be recounted. Trying to divine the intent of voters is no way to decide a president.