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August 15, 2008

Geraldine Ferraro on the VP Prospects

Hannity & Colmes

STEELE: We're just 81 days away from election day, and V.P. speculation continues to dominate the rumor mill. Democrats are buzzing about Joe Biden. The Delaware Senator is scheduled to speak at the convention, and his years of foreign policy experience could alleviate Obama's weakness in that area.

Meanwhile, some social conservatives are concerned that candidates on McCain's short list don't share their values, in particular Tom Ridge and his liberal stance on abortion.

And in a late-breaking story tonight, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean made some comments in an interview with National Public Radio that some people are finding -- well, offensive. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD DEAN, CHAIR, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE: If you look at folks of color, even women, they're more successful in the Democratic Party than they are in the White -- excuse me, than in the Republican Party.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEELE: A short time ago, the McCain campaign responded by saying that Dean's comments were inappropriate and insulting.

Joining us, now, former vice-presidential candidate and FOX News contributor, Geraldine Ferraro.

Very nice to see you.

GERALDINE FERRARO, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: Thank you. Good to see you, Michael.

STEELE: Good to be with you again. Quick question: what is his problem? What is this man's problem?

FERRARO: I have not a clue. I mean, I wanted to listen to that because I thought maybe he was trying to be funny -- and who knows?

The serious part of that, though, is -- you know, there are a lot of people in -- in Ohio, and in Pennsylvania. A lot of people are turning around and saying, "So what is he saying? They're the white party and we're the black party?" Not a good place to be.

STEELE: Well, and that was going to be a follow-up. I mean, are the Democrats now claiming that "We are the black party and Republicans are the white party"? I mean, this is where Howard Dean's nonsense takes us, and it's the kind of idiocy in a very important election year when race is such a sensitive issue. And you and I have talked about this...

FERRARO: Right, right, right.

STEELE: Why does he say this?

FERRARO: I don't know. Again, he may have been trying to be funny, but he may also -- you know, have -- he was pointing out something that is very legitimate. I mean, if you take a look at the number of people who have been -- who are in our party and who have -- where the party as Democratic leaders have gone and been in the forefront, on issues of civil rights and human rights, it is the Democratic Party...

STEELE: But that's a recent part of the Democratic history.

FERRARO: No, no, Michael, it is not.

STEELE: Civil rights has been a strong part of the Republican Party's history.

FERRARO: Ever since the '60s. I mean, you don't get -- and we're going back a lot of years, going back to Abraham Lincoln.

STEELE: Without Republicans there would be no Civil Rights Act, no Voting Rights Act. Al Gore's dad voted against it.

FERRARO: No, no, no. That's not the reason.

STEELE: I'm just saying that very prominent Democrats have a legacy...

FERRARO: If it wasn't for Hubert Humphrey in the Senate you wouldn't have had the Civil Rights Act.

STEELE: But you needed the votes. You needed the votes at the end of the day. You know that.

FERRARO: But the thing -- the point I just want to make is this. Is that the Democratic Party has always been there. When we get the votes of African-Americans in this country, it's because we have earned the votes.

Your party, how many of you -- I mean, you are unique...

STEELE: When I served as lieutenant governor in the United States there were only two black lieutenant governors in the country and they were both Republicans.

FERRARO: OK. Now tell me how many elected officers there are currently.

STEELE: There are a number -- currently, there are -- there are ...

(CROSSTALK)

COLMES: Is it possible that Howard Dean was speaking shorthand for the idea that the truth that Barack Obama is likely to get 90-some-odd percent of the African-American vote. John McCain, if he's lucky, gets maybe 10 percent. He probably won't get even that of the African-American vote.

Is that what Howard Dean had in his head, and then he inartfully said what he said?

FERRARO: Well, take a look -- if you take a look at the primary...

COLMES: Yes.

FERRARO: Howard -- you know, Hillary Clinton got only 5 percent of the black vote, too, so it has nothing to do with party. It really doesn't, and I don't think that that was his point.

COLMES: Fine for a general election. You know, in a general election, Hillary Clinton would have gotten a much bigger percentage of the black vote...

FERRARO: I would hope so.

COLMES: All right. Let's move on to...

(CROSSTALK)

FERRARO: What she's done in these issues.

COLMES: We're going to find out momentarily...

FERRARO: Right.

COLMES: ... who the V.P. choices are. What's happening right now? I mean, you have been in this process. What's going on?

FERRARO: Well, obviously, what they've done is they're spending a lot of time vetting.

COLMES: You think they're still vetting?

FERRARO: Which is the same way they did -- well, you know, if you take a look at the people who are supposed to appear at the convention on Wednesday night...

COLMES: Yes.

FERRARO: ... those are -- you know, people who have been vetted all along...

COLMES: Evan Bayh?

FERRARO: Well, first of all Joe Biden has already run for president. He's been an incumbent senator. There's not too much vetting to have to be done with him. And Evan Bayh, the same thing. He's been a governor. He's been -- he's a senator. That's not unusual to me. And so it seems -- maybe it's a game or maybe it's just saying...

COLMES: Will one of them be the nominee, do you think?

FERRARO: Could possibly. You know, they have to have the speeches.

COLMES: The speech is already done.

FERRARO: The thing about it is it could be, but it's also these are two people in the party who will be -- I'm sure if they're not -- if they're not the vice-presidential candidate, that one or the other will be getting -- if not both placed...

COLMES: Who should he choose?

FERRARO: You know, I love Joe Biden, and I like Joe -- Evan Bayh. Joe Biden I've known for a lot of years. He's got tremendous experience in foreign policy. And, to be quite frank, I mean, you know, you turn around, you say, what is the biggest need that Barack Obama has? He's got to -- he's got to prove that he can handle the issues, for instance, this whole thing that's happening with Russia and Georgia right now.

COLMES: Would Joe Biden be a better choice than Evan Bayh?

FERRARO: I don't know. As far as foreign policy is concerned, yes. As far as someone who has also been a governor and who has had administrative experience and who has worked in both the House -- has worked in the Senate and has a long history, as well, on foreign policy, I don't know. I don't.

COLMES: Very quickly, we've got to run, but who should McCain pick?

FERRARO: Well, McCain, I see them talking about Joe Lieberman, and that kind of stuns me. I kind of -- I kind of like -- I'll tell you my two choices. My two choices are Kay Bailey Hutchinson from Texas, and Tom Ridge, because Tom Ridge is...

COLMES: Even though he's pro-choice?

FERRARO: I think that would -- I think conservatives are not going to walk away from the...

COLMES: We've got to run, Gerri. Thank you very much for being here tonight. Great to see you, as always.

FERRARO: Thank you. Good to see you.

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