Tom Daschle: Clintons Are "Very Combative"

Political Players: Former Senate Majority Leader Says Barack Obama Can Turn the Page

(CBS)  Political Players is a weekly conversation with the leaders, consultants, and activists who shape American politics. This week, CBS News' Brian Goldsmith talked with Tom Daschle, the former Senate Majority Leader, about his support for Barack Obama, his opinion of the Clintons, and the issues at stake in the Democratic presidential primaries.

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CBSNews.com: This week, Senator Clinton's campaign manager sent a letter to her counterpart over at the Obama campaign calling on him to agree to do a debate a week for the rest of the primary season. There has been only one debate with just Senator Obama and Senator Clinton. And your candidate, Senator Obama, has not accepted that offer. Why not a debate a week?

Tom Daschle: Well, I don't know that participating in eighteen debates so far means you're avoiding anything. I think he said yes to just about every debate that he's had an invitation to. And I think he'll continue to debate.

It's just the thought of having one a week may not provide the opportunity to reach out to voters all over the country and to keep the schedule that he's attempting to keep. I have little doubt that there will be more debates. But one a week probably seems excessive.

CBSNews.com: The last debate, on CNN, was viewed by about eight million people. So the Clinton campaign's argument is what better way to reach voters than through these debates, where you're being challenged, as opposed to big rallies at which you're just repeating the same stump speech?

Tom Daschle: Well, it isn't just rallies. There are a lot of different aspects to a campaign. And again, as I said, Barack is certainly not averse to more debates. And I'm sure there will be more. I think it's more a question of how many and where are the venues.

And I think we ought to take this one at a time, rather than just to lock in a weekly debate. They cover a lot of the same ground. I don't know about you, but I can almost mouth the answers now, when I watch those debates. Just because you're asked same question over and over and over again.

That isn't really a refreshing new look at the campaign, as much as it is a chance for each candidate to recite sound bites. And that isn't helpful to the voters either.

CBSNews.com: Speaking of asking the same questions over and over, it seems like a day does not go by in which Senator Obama is not attacked about his health care plan by the Clinton campaign. What is your response to their main point, which is, essentially, if you're not going to fight for universal coverage in the Democratic primaries, you're never going get it done. Because you've already negotiated with yourself 15 million people who are going to remain uninsured.

Tom Daschle: Well, I think Barack would say very emphatically that there is no difference when it comes to universal coverage between the two campaigns or the candidates. It's just a question of how you get there. I've argued both. I think you can get there by incenting and by inviting people to participate and making it more affordable.

You can get there with mandates. His view is, let's try the incentives first. People aren't unwilling to get health insurance if they can afford it. You know, we have mandates in a lot of states today for health insurance and still fall far short of complete and universal coverage.

I think it's also important to remember that about 90 percent or more of the two plans offered by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are the same in style and substance and approach. So we're focusing on the one area where there's somewhat of a difference.

CBSNews.com: What do you think is their biggest policy difference beyond health care?

Tom Daschle: Well, I think probably their biggest policy difference has to do with the way we would approach foreign policy. I think Hillary is a little bit more in the Bush vein of using muscle and using confrontational methods. Barack believes that we have to put more emphasis on diplomacy and engagement.

There's a huge difference with regard to Iraq, and how we got there, what we had to do afterwards. But, I think that, when it comes to the primary difference affecting policy in this context, that Barack is taking the approach that, historically, has worked very well for us.

We reached out to China, even though they were our enemy. We reached out to the Soviet Union, even though they were our enemy. Barack believes we have to be reaching out to those with whom there are disagreements and see if we can resolve those disagreements. Hillary disagrees with that.

CBSNews.com: Doesn't Senator Clinton, though, also argue for reaching out to those countries? She just says that we shouldn't agree for the president of the United States to meet with leaders like Ahmedinijad without any preconditions.

Tom Daschle: Well, of course, that's never what Barack has indicated. And to suggest that Barack has said that is, again, sort of a distortion that comes from the Clinton campaign.

CBSNews.com: But didn't this fight really begin at one of the debates at which Senator Obama was asked, would he meet without preconditions with five very controversial world leaders within the first year of his presidency. And he said yes. And Senator Clinton said no.

And the Obama campaign's argument has been that, therefore, she's not for reaching out to other countries. And the Clinton campaign's argument is that he would meet with people without preconditions. So how are we supposed to referee this?

Tom Daschle: Well, I think the only way to referee it is to continue to press the questions. And to make sure that we have a clarified understanding of what each side would do. They may not be as far apart as it may have originally sounded. But I think the Clinton campaign seems to find it in their interest to distort and to misinterpret what Barack has said from the very beginning on some of these things. And that's what makes clarifying a lot of these issues as difficult as it appears to be.

CBSNews.com: You've obviously known the Clintons for a long time, at least since 1993 when Bill Clinton became the president. And you've known Senator Obama for a much shorter period of time. Is it fair to say that there was something wrong, in your view, with the way the Clintons handled the presidency that led you to reject people whom you've known a lot longer?

Tom Daschle: Well, I give high marks to the president for many things that he did. I think the state of the economy and our position in the world and his ability to deal with crises that came during his presidency were all good things. But I don't know what it says about our country and this democracy if, for whatever reason, we feel compelled to re-elect members of two families over the last 20 years.

How much longer that continues, I think, is not only something that we in this country grapple with, but it is difficult for me to say to other countries, "You've got to expand your base. You've got to have other new, fresh leadership. You can't rely on the same names over and over again."

So it starts with that. Just like in my case. I mean, I've been in this business for a long time. There comes a time when the history of all of those battles and fights catches up with you. And it becomes an impediment to trying to turn the page and really bring about meaningful change.

Barack comes with a clean slate. And he doesn't come with all that baggage and history. And so, it seems to me he's in a lot better position to turn the page, to look to the future, to unite this country without all of the tremendous challenges that come with recalling the history of the last 20 years.

[quetzal0666]

If I were Hillary id punch this guy..

[cbs4me3]

Tom, we sense your anger just as we sense the anger of Kerry and Teddy. You all reached for the goal and failed. Don''t let your anger fuel the arrogance of Obama that he has shown time and again. You are feeding the inferno that destroys the party. If you want to be part of this destruction, then reap the loss in November for John McCain will reap the reward, and in a huge victory.

[ericrsiny]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/02/the-super-deleg.html

Based on this article Obama is implying that the super delgates should vote for whoever wins that state. It seems to me then he is saying that Ted Kennedy and John Kerry should cast their votes as super delegates for Hillary and not for Obama.

Also, did anyone else catch David Schuster last night on MSNBC? He asked if Hillary and Bill were "pimping out" Chelsea on the campaign trail. That seems a pretty poor choice of words but heck should I have expected any different from the sexists at MSNBC (Olbermann and Abrams excluded).

[sjbj2322]

CBSNews asked, "If you assume Senator Obama becomes the nominee, do you worry that Senator McCain can say to people, %u201CImagine a foreign policy crisis. A terrorist has just struck the United States. Who do you want to be sitting in that chair? Somebody with zero foreign policy experience? Or somebody with 25 years of foreign policy experience?%u201D

I''m surprised that Daschle didn''t simply state that Barack has already stated in his book, "Audacity of Hope" just how he would handle it. Obama wrote, "I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."

[emj2740]

Two days in a row and two negitive articles about Obama and his campaign. Yesteday it was Obama supporters are like members of a cult. BS. I am a republican, always voted republican except now because I support Obama. Today there is this article. Look at the anti-Obama negative tone of teh CBS questions.

Weeks ago I thought it was very clear that CNN supports Hillary Clinton based on the commentary I heard. Now CBS looks like Hillary supporters as well.

CBS please stop the bias.

[approvedcbs]

During Bill Clintons reign of blunders in the 1990s, nuclear technology was transfer to Russia for development of advanced nuclear power program to encourage peaceful uses of nuclear technology. Russia has since been selling that technology to Iran. Clinton did the same thing with North Korea, who then sold the technology to Pakistan. Now both North Korea and Pakistan have the bomb. If Hillary wants the credit for her husbands so-called success then she needs to take responsiblities for his failures.

[approvedcbs]

CBS = Clinton Broadcast Service

[tomanyt]

ApprovedCBS...And the current administration is subsidizing a nuclear power plan in Iran through Russia. So what is your point?

[tomanyt]

Tom Daschle is a ******-bag.

[voter1111]

lol...Kerry and Edwards should vote for Hillary. hahahahahahah

[rowdytexan2]

Tom Daschle: Well, without enumerating all the things that occurred in the 90''s, all of us--Democrats and Republicans--were at each other''s throats a lot. And that combativeness is something that goes on today.

And this is Hillary''s fault???? Good Gawd...what a buffoon.

[rowdytexan2]

But that is how they''ve learned to survive, is to be that combative, to be that confrontational.

To be combative is to be strong, and fight for what needs to be done. That''s what we''re going to have to have in the White House to fix this country.

[voter1111]

Read Obama''s book and then decide who is the "divisive" candidate....

"I ceased to advertise my mother''''s race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites" "never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn''''t speak to my own. It was into my father''''s image, the black man, son of Africa, that I''''d packed all the attributes I sought in myself." "That hate hadn''''t gone away," he wrote, blaming "white people %u2014 some cruel, some ignorant, sometimes a single face, sometimes just a faceless image of a system claiming power over our lives."

[realpatriot1]

emj2740,

The Washington press corps has been anointing Hillary for 2 years now. They have to try to help her along because if she goes down these "experts" look like fools. The conventional wisdom will defend itself to the end.

Rowdy,

There''s enough blame to go around for the politics of personal destruction and I don''t think the Clintons deserve the lion''s share of the blame. However, what''s relevant now isn''t who was to blame for the 90s but who will make the next 8 years less divisive and partison.

"If you''re nt part of the solution you''re part of the problem."-Eldridge Cleaver,Soul On Ice.

[mikeant50]

cbs4me,

Isn''t it arrogant to assume that because your name is Clinton that you would automatically be annointed as the Democratic nominee? Isn''t it arrogant to think that because your are a former President, the party should heed your every word. When did the Democratic Party become the Clinton Party? What''s going to tear the party apart is when the Clintons put pressure on the spineless Chair of the Party to allow Florida and Michigan delegates to be seated at the convention, so Hillary can get the nomination. Then you will see a civil war within the Party. I wonder will the Clinton''s even care as long as Hillary is the nominee.

[brushing3]

For Hillary Clinton I know and I remember the good your family has done for Native Americans (my people)! I will stick with what I know and that is you. O is only now reaching out to my people and the hispanics and that is because he want''''s our vote. Where was O when we needed him!
with all my respect, from a Native American Woman supportor.


We are the Ones We''''ve Been Waiting For


"August was the anniversary month for the 87th year of passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. The right to express your opinions by electing sound leaders is one of the easiest steps you can take to lead a political life. But, your involvement shouldn''''t stop there. The next step has to be leadership, whether that means leading your PTA, City Council, local alumni chapter, a board of directors, or congressional district. Women are more likely to become politically engaged when they see women like them in leadership positions. We are the ones we''''ve been waiting for! (Hopi Nation teaching)

Our time is now! Step forth%u2014allow your great talents gifts and strengths be experienced in the world!




What do you have to loose? You have everything to gain!!!

[squidly8]

Arrogance - that is what dominates HRCs life. Only my opinion but I would be pretty surprised if I am wrong....I think HRC is really ticked off at Obama because he is trampling on a nomination she feels she is entitled to. I don''t think she wanted to have to work this hard for it. She wanted it to be a national love fest that just gave her the nomination. She sees Obama invading her turf.

[katefranklin]

I''m so sick of the endless drone from the Clinton camp about inspiration versus substance. The point of a stump speech is not to be a robotic wonk that enumerates the minutia of public policy. If you want the details of Obama''s policy, go to the his website or call his campaign headquarters. There you will be handed more policy details then you will know what to do with. (You may be surprised to find that in some areas Obama is *more* detailed then Clinton, e.g., Social Security.) The truth is that there is nothing inspiring about recycling a lukewarm administration from the nineties. Get over it already.

[approvedcbs]

mikeant50 is correct. Hillary has a sense of "entitlement". She believes she "deserves" to win. Now Hillary is projecting all of her anger and sense of victimization built up over the years from her husband and Republican poltical rivals to Barack. This is feminism? This is empowerment?

[barbjc1]

Are you noticing the media is NOT talking much about Obama''s racist church, his book about him denying his "white side" and his "hallelujah brother" about his motherland.
What is up with our young people? Are they trying to hard to prove their diversity they are making a poor decision.
Americans, please stop looking at the Bill Clinton administration and make your decision based on Hillary''s qualifications.
The black vote going almost strictly to Obama, isn''t that RACISM?

[brushing3]

and why would we listen to Daschle! Does Barack think he is entitled to the presidency just because he will be the first black president. The entitlement label goes both ways. Ask Obama the following questions; 1. are you for black repriations. 2.What is your stance on the FCC. 3. Where do you stand on legalizing marijuana. Obama''s supportors are blacks (all) and White youth & men. These are the things to ask barack because he is a specialist in these matters, these are his community organization working commitments. These questions haven''t come to the forefront because Obama if he answers them truthfully will have to flip-flop when he gets into office. If he say''s no to question #1 will the blacks still stand with him and put this issue to bed because if they don''t haunt Obama on this issue, they will never get another chance to haunt the american people on this issue again, they won''t be able to cry white people trying to keep the blacks down because their own black man president will be against it. If Obama is for it - look out!

[barbjc1]

Good for you brushing3. The American people are being fed a "bill of goods" for typical media sensationalism.
Americans, please refer to your American history. After the Civil War, the slaves were offered a choice, remigrate back to Africa at our government''s expense or stay here and receive monetary compensation. Where do you think the country Liberia, in Africa came from?

[voter1111]

Yeah and Obama''s up on the podium spouting "our time has come" as if THAT isn''t all about victimization and entitlement and mimicing the speeches of truer leaders. Pul--eeese.
I''ll vote for the woman with her sleeves rolled up.

[barbjc1]

"I ceased to advertise my mother''''''''s race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites" "never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn''''''''t speak to my own. It was into my father''''''''s image, the black man, son of Africa, that I''''''''d packed all the attributes I sought in myself." "That hate hadn''''''''t gone away," he wrote, blaming "white people %u2014 some cruel, some ignorant, sometimes a single face, sometimes just a faceless image of a system claiming power over our lives."
Here is my question to Obama. If we are that bad why don''t you go to Africa to live, if it is so great?

[brushing3]

and why would we listen to Daschle! Does Barack think he is entitled to the presidency just because he will be the first black president. The entitlement label goes both ways. Ask Obama the following questions; 1. are you for black repriations. 2.What is your stance on the FCC. 3. Where do you stand on legalizing marijuana. Obama''''s supportors are blacks (all) and White youth & men. These are the things to ask barack because he is a specialist in these matters, these are his community organization working commitments. These questions haven''''t come to the forefront because Obama if he answers them truthfully will have to flip-flop when he gets into office. If he say''''s no to question #1 will the blacks still stand with him and put this issue to bed because if they don''''t haunt Obama on this issue, they will never get another chance to haunt the american people on this issue again, they won''''t be able to cry white people trying to keep the blacks down because their own black man president will be against it. If Obama is for it - look out!

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by voter1111 at 01:14 PM : Feb 08, 2008

Well said!

[voter1111]

From Joe Klein (Time Magazine)

And yet there was something just a wee bit creepy about the mass messianism %u2014 "We are the ones we''ve been waiting for" %u2014 of the Super Tuesday speech and the recent turn of the Obama campaign. "This time can be different because this campaign for the presidency of the United States of America is different. It''s different not because of me. It''s different because of you." That is not just maddeningly vague but also disingenuous: the campaign is entirely about Obama and his ability to inspire. Rather than focusing on any specific issue or cause %u2014 other than an amorphous desire for change %u2014 the message is becoming dangerously self-referential. The Obama campaign all too often is about how wonderful the Obama campaign is.

[melbuck3]

Tom Daschle needs to do some growing up and disappear just as his electorate in 2004 wanted him to do! It is people like Daschle who instill trash into campaigns by trying to influence divide! Too bad Daschle didn''t have a combatative spirit to fight for his place in the Senate when it was a cake walk to do so in 2004 and not allowed himself to be the first Senate leader in 50 yrs to be booted out! Tom, no one tell you that failure breeds failure?

[tejasdemo]

Blah, Blah, Blah. I think it is hilarious how every one wants to play nice now. I want action !!!

I dont have 100 years for the politicians to get it figured out. I want action now !!!! I want all Republicans out. I dont want us to work with them. they have proven they are completely incompetent.

I want help..real dollars help and lots of lots and lots of it for the poor. I dont want one more single dime going to the rich.

Stop whining about the Clintons. Last time I checked they did one helluva job for this country. Things were good. People had jobs and hope.

Let''s do it.

[gunownerdan]

"Today we need a nation of minute men; citizens who are not only prepared to take up arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as a basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom. The cause of liberty, the cause of American, cannot succeed with any lesser effort."
-- President John F. Kennedy, January 29, 1961

a-human-right.com

[destardi]

it''s good to see the pro-Hillary comments here...

Especially when obama and michelle are making it all about them, instead of the country; whiny spoiled brats, here''s Michelle in her own words about supporting the Dem nominee whomever that may be:

http://www.talkleft.com/story/2008/2/4/124123/6787

The next couple of weeks might be rough on Hillary, but it''s expected with the demographics (read large number of african americans) involved, but she''s still going to win the Primary.

Bank on it...notice the media hasn''t hyped her raising 6.4 million in 30 hours, when Obama''s 7.2 million was all over the headlines...they only emphasize Hillary''s negatives...

Question yourself why the media is pushing so hard for Obama?

Didn''t we just deal with 7 years of the media covering for Bush?

I''m going in the OPPOSITE direction.

[beader59]

Old Tomboy, keep your mouth closed. The Clintons can be as combative as they want. If that is what it takes to get our country back to the way it was when Bill was in office, more power to Hillary. Quit complaining. In the past, Democrats have killed each other over *** like this. Obama is weak, insincere, naive and inexperienced. Get of the Obama cult wagon, it is just creepy. I want someone fighting for America and I believe Hillary is the person. Obama might be nice, but I don''t want nice, I want a fighter. As far as the race vs. gender issue, let''s just say Obama''s side is definitely playing the race card. I have heard so many black people say they are voting for him only becasue he is black and they deserve to have him in office. I find that rather racist. Here, I will be sexist. It is tome we have a woman in office. I am tired of men getting us in so much trouble.

[melbuck3]

One thing, didn''t the Mass, Ca and Az results prove something to the media and especially to old politicians?

Voters don''t want to hear from has beens and old worn out self appointed experts so back off and let the voters decide?

Just let the candidates talk and you pundents sit back and quit causing divide! This is a prime example of a has been compounding the divide facing Democrats by have nothing good to say about a Democratic candidate!

Tom Daschle, if you want to talk politics, then please talk about your failure to the Democratic Party in losing your Senate seat and stop talking negatively about candidates trying to do something for the country PLEASE!

[trueprogress]

WOMEN ARE STILL SLAVES

AS a feminist and a Women''s Studies full Professor at a major public college (to be named) I am not surprised at the "good old boys" gang and tag teaming our poor Ms. Candidate. As I predicted some time ago, the "bus drivers" will NEVER allow one of the PASSENGERS to take control of the bus. In this case, Feminists need to rally, as Ms. H. is a vote for ourselves. We can not vote for ANY MAN, no matter how torn we are by race concerns. Women are more historically represssed/enslaved/dominated/detailed/renagerated/ vs. any race, as women never had an "equal" rights law passed and are still second class citizens. In many states for example, women are expected by law to earn an income after 5 years of support from a "husband" even if the woman devotes her time to social activists causes !! I for one am offended.
Me and my students are canvasing door to door to speak to women voters, to inform/educate/and liberate them, and for many have encouraged divorce as the first step toward freedom, once we define the dominance we see. Likewise, we must support by voting, for this great woman, Hillary, to lead us out of bondage.

[gunownerdan]

"How a politician stands on the Second Amendment tells you how he or she views you as an individual ... as a trustworthy and productive citizen, or as part of an unruly crowd that needs to be lorded over, controlled, supervised, and taken care of."
- Suzanna Gratia-Hupp

www.A-HUMAN-RIGHT.com

[antoniof123]

This man is just pissed because he was removed and you know Tom there was good reason. If you don''t do what you are told by the people that put you in office be prepared to be removed.

God I hate a cry baby, sounds just like the right wing radio talk show hosts always crying and blabering about nothing.

[alanrobisch]

Likewise, we must support by voting, for this great woman, Hillary, to lead us out of bondage.


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Posted by TRueprogress at 02:53 PM : Feb 08, 2008

What a bunch of junk. I am glad I am not going to the school you are going to be teaching at. Its obvious that you are a sexist and you judge by gender not ability. Voting for Hillary is voting for a liar whose sole goal is political power.

[gretagreen]

I just hope Hillary and Obama, and their surrogates and supporters, don''t bash each other so much that the voters turn to McCain. Hillary and Obama are both GREAT candidates. One of them should be in the White House.

[ajmarine1]

"Ms. Candidate."

Feminists need to rally, as "Ms. H." is a vote for
ourselves

Posted by TRueprogress at 02:53 PM : Feb 08, 2008


Did I miss something? Did Hillary get rid of Bill?

I''ve been confused since she drop the "Rodman" from her name now that she has started her Presidential run.

[realpatriot1]

melbuck3,

If Daschle was defending Hillary against attacks by Obama you would be praising him as the victim of a vast right wing conspiracy.

commonsence,

Your speculation about JFK applies directly to mattress Bill.

beader69,

A sure sign that someone is in a cult is when they believe in a myth not supported by the facts...like Hillary has experience.

If you haven''t heard women saying they plan on voting for hillary simply because she''s a woman i direct you to the comments of one trueprogress.

Funny how Hillary had majority black support until SHE started playing the race card!

[alanrobisch]

I''''ve been confused since she drop the "Rodman" from her name now that she has started her Presidential run.



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Posted by AJMarine1 at 03:42 PM : Feb 08, 2008

Yeah ain''t it amazing she changes even her own name to insure her election. Talk about a chameleon

[ajmarine1]

Yeah ain''''t it amazing she changes even her own name to insure her election. Talk about a chameleon

Posted by alanrobisch2 at 03:47 PM : Feb 08, 2008


I think the Rev. Al & Jesse drop the "Reverend" from their names when they run for office also.

[hawksprings]

Hey TRueprogress,

Name one Republican woman that you would vote for.

[alanrobisch]

This man is just pissed because he was removed and you know Tom there was good reason. If you don''''t do what you are told by the people that put you in office be prepared to be removed.
Posted by antoniof123 at 03:04 PM : Feb 08, 2008
+ report abuse

My impression of tom daschle was of a well spoken intelligent man and not a sour grapes individual. He lost reeclection by maybe 10000 votes. He is an honorable person unlike the clintons

[alanrobisch]

think the Rev. Al & Jesse drop the "Reverend" from their names when they run for office also.



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Posted by AJMarine1 at 03:50 PM : Feb 08, 2008

It sort of bothers me that either call themselves reverend since neither acts in the manner of an honorable person particulary Sharpton

[ajmarine1]

It sort of bothers me that either call themselves reverend since neither acts in the manner of an honorable person particulary Sharpton

Posted by alanrobisch2 at 04:02 PM : Feb 08, 2008


I think it is funny that Jesse was having an affair while he was counseling Bill about Monica.

I lost all respect for Al after the Tawana Brawley thing.

[denn034]

When their own party attacks the Clinton''s negativity, then, that''s says something for sure. One wonders why Daschle isn''t attacking his own party for planning to go negative against McCain. Hypocrisy galore for sure.

[alanrobisch]

Aj I totally agree. He has never paid the fine imposed for slander

[cbs4me3]

Any word what happened to this guy? The picture in not the least bit flattering. I''ll bet he would hate to go into the wax museum with that face.

[ajmarine1]

Posted by alanrobisch2 at 04:14 PM : Feb 08, 2008


What Al had to say about it during an interveiw.



WALLACE: If I may, sir %u2014 if I may ask the question, a grand jury says it was a hoax. A jury found you guilty of defamation and made you pay one of the white officers $87,000.

Did you ever apologize to any of them for your comments?

SHARPTON: May I answer the question?

WALLACE: If you answer the question about Tawana Brawley, sure.

SHARPTON: I''m answering the question, yes. Just like I have done in other cases where juries find in criminal cases %u2014 there''s no guilt in a civil case %u2014 and did not apologize and come to find out we were right.

I believed I was right on Ms. Brawley. We paid the penalty, just as I felt Mr. Imus should pay the penalty. I did not apologize for something that I believed were right.

I believed many Americans disagreed with the jury in O.J. Simpson. Do they have to apologize and say they were racist because they believed O.J. Simpson was guilty and the jury said he was not, or Michael Jackson?

I mean, all of us have the right to disagrees with juries. If people feel that you did it wrongly, they have a right to pursue an action, and you should stay and stand up and pay the penalty of that. I did. And so should others, including, in this case, Mr. Imus.