American Morning

Donna, hello. Good morning.

DONNA BRAZILE, CNN Political Contributor: Good morning.

COLLINS: Cliff May with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.

Cliff, hello to you as well.

CLIFF MAY, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Hi, Heidi.

COLLINS: And in New York, writer and comedian Paul Mercurio.

Hello to you, Paul.

PAUL MERCURIO, WRITER/COMEDIAN: Good morning.

COLLINS: Hey, Donna, let’s get started with you. Senator Kerry now calling on President Bush to condemn these latest attack ads, in particular the Swift Boat Veterans. Does the president need to do that?

BRAZILE: He should. He should Condemn not just this specific ad, but he should also tell some of these Swift Boat Veterans — I can’t even say it — for the truth, to get their stories straight.

COLLINS: Cliff, what about moveon.org? Does that come into play?

MAY: Well, of course it does. You’ve all of these groups out there. Look, I think basically the swift veterans for Kerry should tell their story. The swift veterans who are against Kerry should tell their story.

But sometimes, I think there should be a statute of limitations for anything anybody did more than a quarter of a century ago.

COLLINS: Paul, your thoughts on that?

MERCURIO: Well, I think the Bush campaign would like to condemn the ad, but they’re busy right now condemning Kerry. Their whole condemning schedule is really packed right now. And as far as the president’s concerned, he told Larry King he hasn’t seen the ad. Why hasn’t he seen it? Well, it’s obvious. They don’t have television at the White House. They don’t even have electricity. These are rancher folk. Laura spends 10 hours a day in a loom, and the twins are busy churning butter.

COLLINS: All right, thanks so much for that, Paul.

Cliff, let’s get back to you now. As you know, Christie Todd Whitman, former New Jersey governor, as well as former Bush cabinet secretary, she, as well as other Republicanism, calling on Governor Jim McGreevey to step down right now. Does she have a point, for the good of the state, she says?

MAY: Yes, she’s got a point, and a lot of Democrats are saying the same thing. Look, it appears that McGreevey put somebody on the payroll who wasn’t qualified. Whether that person was a boy toy, or a girl toy or just a drinking buddy, you don’t do that. It’s wrong. If he did something wing, he should get out of there and make way for Joe Piscopo or somebody else.

COLLINS: Donna, what about that?

BRAZILE: Well, he stepped down. He’s planned to step down in a couple of weeks, and rightfully so. I think they should allow the governor to allow an orderly transition.

COLLINS: All right, Paul, what’s it all boil down to?

MERCURIO: Well I happen to know that McGreevey would like to step down now instead of in the fall, but the reality is he works in Trenton. And who would want to miss peak foliage season in Trenton, New Jersey.

And by the way, it’s summer. You can’t get your friends to help you move in the summer. He called Corzine. Corzine’s at the Jersey shore boogie-boarding.

COLLINS: There he is. All right, thanks, Paul.

Donna, back down to you. As you know, Bush supporter Ricky Skaggs is leading this get-out-the-vote campaign with his country music. We’ve also got Bruce Springsteen with his type of music supporting Kerry. Do these guys, these entertainers in particular, really make a difference in the election?

BRAZILE: They could make a difference, especially if they reach those young American who up until this point have not gotten involved in the political process. I support Russell Simmons and what Sean “Puffy” Combs is trying to do to get out the vote as well.

COLLINS: Cliff, do they make a difference? People listen?

MAY: You know, people may listen, but other people may get annoyed. You’ve got these movie stars, who are rich, and they’re beautiful, and they’re surrounded by people saying to them, you are so great, you are so smart about everything, and there — I think in a certain way people also just get tired of Hollywood trying to lord it over us.

COLLINS: All right, Paul, do people relate to these entertainers.

MERCURIO: Yes, I think they do. I mean, otherwise, we wouldn’t have these concerts. And thank God they do, because I know if I can’t learn about stem cell research from John Mellencamp, who am I going to learn it from?

And by the way, no better way than voter to make a political decision that will affect his life the next four years than when he’s high and drunk with 50,000 screaming people.

COLLINS: All right, quickly, Donna, what is the undercovered story this week for us?

BRAZILE: In less than a week, over six million Americans, according to the Department, will lose their overtime pay. I think those Americans who will work 40 hours and learn that they do not get any resources for time and a half will be very upset with the government.

COLLINS: Cliff, how about you?

MAY: Muna Al Abdullah (ph), remember that name. He was captured in Iraq this week. He works for Hezbollah, supported by Iran, supported by Syria. Hezbollah killed more than 250 American with suicide terrorist bomber more than 20 years ago. What was he doing in Iraq? Setting up contacts between Baathist guerrillas and Al Qaeda. In other words, he’s living proof of the unholy alliance among Hezbollah, the Baathists of Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda. Very important development.

COLLINS: All right, thanks so much, Cliff.

And, Paul, what do you say?

MERCURIO: Mine’s not quite as heavy as that.

Oprah served on a jury in a murder trial, and they convicted the guy in 30 minutes, but that’s not the real story; the real story is, is they were sending the defendant to prison. Oprah surprised him with a complete makeover. And I understand he started crying, not because he was going to go to jail, but because he never thought he’d wear clogs.

COLLINS: OK.

Donna, Cliff, Paul, you guys,thanks so much for that today. Sure do appreciate it.

MERCURIO: Thank you.

MAY: Thank you.