MSNBC "Hardball with Chris Matthews" - Transcript: DNC Convention
Interview
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MATTHEWS: ... bringing their convention to Philadelphia. The chair
of the Democratic National Committee, Florida congresswoman Debbie
Wasserman Schultz, the former governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, the
current mayor of Philadelphia, a great one, Michael Nutter, and
Pennsylvania`s senior U.S. senator, Bob Casey.
I want to start -- everybody -- don`t take all the time because
(INAUDIBLE) to talk here. Let me ask you, Congresswoman, the choice of
Philadelphia -- how much was it about the symbolic history of the city?
REP. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (D-FL), DNC CHAIR: Well, the main three
reasons that we focused on for any of the cities, when we decided on
Philadelphia, was resources, logistics and security. But Philadelphia is
the cradle of democracy, Chris, as you`ve said, you know, many times during
this review.
And the opportunity to nominate the next president of the United
States in Philadelphia with the backdrop of the birth of our nation, and to
showcase the Democratic Party`s values of inclusion and empowerment and
creating more opportunities for people to succeed -- that`s what it`s all
about. And we`re thrilled to be coming to Philadelphia, and I was so
excited to able to call Mayor Nutter, Governor Rendell and Senator Casey
this morning. We`re all very excited.
MATTHEWS: Well, I`m so happy for you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you for
coming on tonight.
MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER (D), PHILADELPHIA: Thank you, Chris.
MATTHEWS: And congratulations. What a great way to end your tour,
your terms as mayor of Philadelphia. You`ve been clean as a whistle, which
is a big deal in Philadelphia, to be completely clean, like Eddie Rendell
was!
(LAUGHTER)
MATTHEWS: We love that! But not only are you completely clear, but
you`re productive. You brought the pope.
NUTTER: Well...
MATTHEWS: And you`re not even Catholic anymore. You brought the...
(LAUGHTER)
MATTHEWS: Even though you went to St. Joe`s, you`re not even
Catholic. You brought the pope, and now you bring the Dems in, and you`re
going to make it even -- now even more important. What are you going to do
here? Tell us why it happened. What did you do right?
NUTTER: Well, Chris, thank you very much. What we did right is we
made sure that everyone had a role to play, played their role properly.
And as Chairwoman Wasserman Schultz laid out, we stayed focused on the
fundamentals of resources, security and logistics.
Having Governor Rendell with his previous experience as mayor and a
party chair, Philly having hosted the 2000 Republican convention, a
convention, of course, nonetheless, and all the things that go with that,
having Senator Casey and the work that he has contributed, his
relationship, of course, not only with the party but with the White House,
Congressman Bob Brady, the leader of our party here, and the person who has
really been pushing this idea for some time.
We weren`t ready -- we didn`t think we were ready, I didn`t think we
were ready for `12, but I knew we could be ready go 2016. We can raise the
money. We have the logistics under hand. And security is our big thing
here in Philadelphia.
The enthusiasm about this -- Chris, you know Philly.
MATTHEWS: I know it.
NUTTER: Is off the charts.
People are really excited in the streets of Philadelphia. And, again,
I want to say thank you to the chair for picking Philly.
MATTHEWS: I want to ask the governor.
Governor Rendell, you gave us a great boost of morale in Philly when
you came on. You are a great booster fort city. I think you`re the spirit
of the city in many ways over the years. What`s this going to mean in
terms of recognition? Finally, Philly is going to be the center of our
country for at least a couple weeks.
ED RENDELL, MSNBC POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, we got a tremendous boost
from the Republican Convention.
People saw Philadelphia and couldn`t believe the changes that had
occurred. As Mayor Nutter pointed out today, all the good things that were
in place in 2000, those things have just progressed under Mayor Street and
Mayor Nutter. The city has gotten better.
It`s a hotbed for millennials. It`s -- according to "Bon Appetit,"
it`s one of the best restaurant cities in America. It`s a great cultural
city. Conde Nast named us the best cultural city. So, it`s a great city
for donor experience, the delegate experience.
Logistically, we proved in 2000 -- I think that is considered, Chris,
to be the best-run convention on either party in the last 20, 25 years.
And the good news is the team that ran it at the Wells Fargo Center, the
police team, the transportation team, that team is all intact, ready to go,
and to do as flawless a job in 2016 as we did in 2000.
But I think, in the end -- and Debbie is right about the three
criteria that they applied -- but, in the end, the ability to do this and
to nominate maybe the first woman who`s nominated for the presidency in the
history of the country, to do that with a backdrop of Independence Hall,
the Liberty Bell, the Constitution Center, I think that was compelling.
MATTHEWS: Has Secretary Clinton got a room at the Ritz-Carlton yet?
Are you all set on that?
(LAUGHTER)
MATTHEWS: Because my wife can help.
(LAUGHTER)
MATTHEWS: Anyway, I`m just kidding.
(CROSSTALK)
MATTHEWS: She has a great suite coming.
Let me go to Bob Casey, senator, senior.
This is a big deal for Pennsylvania. You have got a woman we just
mentioned there, Secretary Clinton, whose family comes out Scranton. We
also have a vice president who still hasn`t said whether he is running or
not, and he comes from Scranton, and you`re from Scranton, as your dad was
from Scranton.
This is a big week for Scranton, I guess, too, although they do root
for the Yankees, and we`re not very happy about that, but just a thought.
(LAUGHTER)
RENDELL: Not all of them.
MATTHEWS: Governor.
Senator, go ahead.
(CROSSTALK)
SEN. BOB CASEY (D), PENNSYLVANIA: Yes.
I would say it`s a great day for Philadelphia, for sure, and for the
region, Southeastern Pennsylvania. It`s also a great day for the
commonwealth. We have got great support, as Governor Rendell and Mayor
Nutter know, from all across the state. The state united behind
Philadelphia`s bid.
So it was a great effort to accentuate the city that`s the birthplace
of America, and I think we will chart a course for the future.
Chris, I want to make one footnote here, though.
MATTHEWS: Go ahead.
CASEY: We`re grateful for the chairwoman`s work. She did great work
But you do not want to be on a witness stand when she`s cross-
examining you, like she cross-examined the three of us.
(LAUGHTER)
CASEY: She was tough.
MATTHEWS: OK. I want to thank -- we have got to thank Bobby Brady,
the chairman of the city committee, too, of course.
CASEY: Absolutely.
(CROSSTALK)
MATTHEWS: By the way, dare I say it, U.S. Congresswoman Debbie
Wasserman Schultz, I will now say it in more simple American language.
Thank you, Debbie, for Philadelphia. Such a great thing you have done
here.
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: You`re welcome. You`re welcome.
MATTHEWS: Thanks so much.
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: We`re thrilled.
MATTHEWS: Governor Rendell -- Governor Rendell, Mayor Michael Nutter,
and Senator Bob Casey, senior senator, thank you all, gentlemen. Thank
you, Congresswoman.
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