Ben on the O'Reilly Factor...

[Ben.]

TONIGHT ON THE O’REILLY FACTOR,

Movie Star: Morgan Freeman
The Survivor of the Charleston Typhoon
…and DLC chair Ben.

BILL O'REILLY, HOST: Tonight, DLC Chair Ben has said that leading staunch liberals would lead the Democratic Party to “rack and ruin” but he has also responded to the formation of the UAC with a staunch appeal for Party loyalty and unity. He’s been a big force in the recent election of Senator Tweed in the 1st District and he’s also been behind some of the most recent ads launched by the Nym Campaign. So Ben joins me now live here in the studio.  

O'REILLY: Welcome to the Show…

BEN, DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP COUNCIL CHAIR: Pleasure as always Bill…

O'REILLY: I'm going to ask you what everybody asks me. What is the difference between your self and other moderates Dems and the UAC?

BEN: Well Bill, I’m glad you asked me this, the thing is people in this country want answers and solutions not tired old party slogans and dogmas. It’s a very clever thing that the UAC have done to set themselves up as almost a “thirdway” new-democrat/ new-GOP Party which by its very nature casts all the other party’s as extremist and out of touch. But the truth of the matter is that the UAC has no real core, there are real solid moderates there who I have a great deal of respect for, folks like Gustaf, Wildcard and htmldon, but by the same token there are guys like Supersoulty, ilikeverin, Brambila and Ford, all of them good decent and principled men but hardly what you would call centrists…

O'REILLY:… yeah, but you can hardly call those guy extremist now?

BEN: Certainly not Bill! But you got to remember that these guy are fairly generic republicans and I’m just not sure they really have much common ground with the likes of JFK etc… and the problem I think that grants the UAC is simply no core. There is no unifying principle that they all adhere to and as a result you are left with a disparate party united only by a will to win and while in the short term they may well remain strong, further down the road I think its going to be very hard for them to stick together as a party.

O'REILLY: Ok then… I know… I know what you are saying. I mean, your saying that its just not got a philosophical core?

BEN: Exactly Bill!

O'REILLY: Ok then… I have to say I like those guys [Laughs] but I take your point…

BEN:[Laughter]

O’REILLY: But back to the campaign… the Nym Postive ads we’ve seen… its was your campaign team at the DLC who worked on those? What are you trying to convey in those ads?

BEN: Well I think hat Americans deserve better than baseless attack ads, that said negative advertising can have legitimate justification but it’s a dangerous tool and should be used sparingly… but ya see the great thing with President Nym is that we have a great candidate to articulate this positive message and it works, I think you will find most Americans agree that the tone of these ads are a reflection of their attitudes towards the president and this administration. The fact is that President Nym is the strongest possible candidate he is the guy who can make the tough choices for this nation, I think that after his statements on affirmative action that no one can doubt his commitment to change and making a tough call because it’s the right call to make.

O’REILLY:Yeah… but on issues like welfare and abortion the president seems to have been very “old Democrat”… other democrats such as your self and Senator Tweed would have preferred he take a more moderate stand on this issues?

BEN: I think its no secret that I have supported the “Tweed Abortion Bill” and the President and the Chief Justice have voice their opposition to it in principle…  

O’REILLY: Can I just stop you there Ben… I mean this rather public row between you and the Chief justice over the issue of abortion and a whole raft of socially liberal postions which you have taken issue with… whats that all about?

BEN:[Smiles]…well Bill you know I have a great respect for the Chief Justice [smirks]… but I think it fair to say we’ve had a little dispute…

O’REILLY: Little!

BEN: …Spirited is what I’d call it Bill [smiles]… but what’s important is that we are having this fundamental discussion, and I and other moderates (many in the senate) have made a case in favour of banning abortions outside of the first trimester with a few exceptions… now the Chief Justice and a number of Social Liberals including some republicans (Rightwing Nut and Opedo), have taken an opposing stance and I disagree with them strongly and am worried about the impartiality of the Cheife Justice where this case to come before the Supreme Court and I have said as much… but on this issue our side, I mean those in favour of the “Tweed Bill” have made the convincing argument and I think that is why we have been making the head way…

O’REILLY: Ok lets leave that hot potatoes alone [laughs]… no I agree with you, bu…anyway back to the campaign… Do you think that Nym can win?

BEN: Yes, Absolutely!

O’REILLY: …well his poll numbers don’t look great, it really looks like Gustaf will pull this one off…

BEN: I think that the inherent weakness of the UAC coalition will in the end take their toll and leave their ticket weakened… furthermore I think that the lack of a clear message with the UAC will stand in starker and starker contrast to the solid and consistent message that the Democratic Party is putting forward. Both the Practicality of the Democrat Party’s proposals and the commitment to the principle of social justice that underpins them will draw a contrast by them selves which the voters will see and, I believe, will convince them that the candidate who can be the best candidate is Nym.

O’REILLY: Ok…We’re Running out of time… so Ben have you given any thought to running for office?

BEN: None what so ever Bill, I'm really concentrating on my work at the DLC and my new job as AFDN Chair I have no time to really think about such things…  

O’REILLY:…so the Senate?... the Governorship?... the Presidency don’t appeal?

BEN: Bill your not going to draw me into that we have great senators, my region has a great governor and we have a democratic candidate who is going to win this month and I for one am going to work tooth and nail to get Nym/Al into office…

O’REILLY: Always good to have you on the show Ben, good luck at the AFDNC and we hope to have you back on some time soon…. Thanks.

Ben: Thanks as always Bill, keep up the good work…[laughs and shakes of O’Reilly’s hand].

O’REILLY: Ok that was AFDNC/DLC Chair Ben and we’re going to be right back after this….

[Commercials]                    

[ilikeverin]

But the truth of the matter is that the UAC has no real core, there are real solid moderates there who I have a great deal of respect for, folks like Gustaf, Wildcard and htmldon, but by the same token there are guys like Supersoulty, Brambila and Ford, all of them good decent and principled men but hardly what you would call centrists…

Someone listed members they accuse of not being centrists in the UAC... without mentioning me!

[Gustaf]

Hah, the attacks continue.

We have a strong core. There are fringe elements of the party and there always will be. But Ford and Supersoulty ARE moderate. We stand for sensible people, not only extremely centrist people.

[Ben.]

But the truth of the matter is that the UAC has no real core, there are real solid moderates there who I have a great deal of respect for, folks like Gustaf, Wildcard and htmldon, but by the same token there are guys like Supersoulty, Brambila and Ford, all of them good decent and principled men but hardly what you would call centrists…

Someone listed members they accuse of not being centrists in the UAC... without mentioning me!

Fixed!

[ilikeverin]

But the truth of the matter is that the UAC has no real core, there are real solid moderates there who I have a great deal of respect for, folks like Gustaf, Wildcard and htmldon, but by the same token there are guys like Supersoulty, Brambila and Ford, all of them good decent and principled men but hardly what you would call centrists…

Someone listed members they accuse of not being centrists in the UAC... without mentioning me!

Fixed!

Uh, thank you?