A Democrat Endorses the President?

This is a partial transcript from "Hannity & Colmes," August 6, 2004, that has been edited for clarity.

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SEAN HANNITY, CO-HOST: And a few high-profile Democrats may be helping to keep the president in office.

Joining us now is the Democratic mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota. Randy Kelly is with us. And you recently endorsed President Bush in this fall's election.

I was recently in your great city and state, sir. I love it there. How are you?

MAYOR RANDY KELLY (D), ST. PAUL: Sean, I'm great. Susan, it's great to be here.

HANNITY: Thank you. Thank you for being here.

All right. You're a Democrat. You endorse the president. Why?

KELLY: Well, I've been a Democrat for all my life. I've served in public office as a Democrat for the last 30 years. But this is, as we all know, a critical election to the future of America, and, I think, the world.

And I endorse the president for two primary reasons.

First of all, I think that we need continuity in the White House at this point, particularly with the war in Iraq and this global war of terrorism that we have to fight.

And secondly, I think that an abrupt change in administrations at this point will not be beneficial to our economies.

So I think it's in the national best interest if President Bush continues for the next four years, both for the safety of our country, as well as for the — making sure that this economy continues to move forward and recover.

HANNITY: You know, one of the things you said, and you criticized the right for being too hard on Bill Clinton when he was in office. You did say that. And I guess I am probably one of the people you are talking about.

You said for the last few years, many on the left have hated George W. Bush, have wanted him to fail, and the "I hate so and so" is not a platform for the future of America. The politics of hate must stop — must stop now.

Here's what I want to ask you about. I think there's one thing that talk radio, television, the world of punditry, that's one class.

But I have never heard from your party's leadership, when Al Gore screaming George Bush betrayed America, Howard Dean saying that the terror alert was for political reasons and that he advanced the theory that the president knew about 9/11, Ted Kennedy regularly calling him a liar, Dennis Kucinich saying he's targeted civilians for assassination.

These are the leaders of your party. Have you ever heard anything like that at a time of war in your life?

KELLY: Well, Sean, I think that there's a lot of blame to go around on both sides. I'm just one person. But my feeling is that we have to stop this. And I'm standing up and saying enough is enough. And for the simple reason that the people's business is just not being done.

We've got gridlock in Washington. We have gridlock here in our state legislature, because people are unwilling to step across party lines, work in a common sense way to look out for what is in the best common interest.

I spent my time in public office, always working with people of the other party to try to find what was in the best interest of our state and my city, and I am once again doing that for our country, in my opinion.

SUSAN ESTRICH, GUEST CO-HOST: What did you think of Hubert Humphrey, mayor?

KELLY: Hubert Humphrey was a great man. And you know, he was called the happy warrior.

ESTRICH: What do you think he'd think of your decision today? I think he'd probably think of you as a traitor, don't you?

KELLY: No, I don't think so.

ESTRICH: And what do you think Fritz Mondale would think of you today?

KELLY: Hubert — I'm telling you if Hubert Humphrey were here he would be saying the same things I am.

ESTRICH: I know Hubert Humphrey.

KELLY: Susan — Susan, he would be saying that civility in the public discourse ought to continue and that he would absolutely abhor...

ESTRICH: You.

KELLY: ...this kind of discourse that we've had, both from the right as well as from the left.

ESTRICH: You don't think party loyalty means anything?

KELLY: John Kennedy said that both national parties seek to serve the national interests. But when the party's interest differs from the national interest, your first responsibility is to your conscious.

And that is, in my feelings, that is where I am at today. I think it is in the public's best interest if we do not abruptly change administrations when you're involved in the middle of a war, when you have this ongoing terrorism occurring in across the world, and when you have a very fragile economy that is making progress that is moving forward, I just don't think that that's in the country's best interest.

ESTRICH: How is the recall campaign going?

KELLY: Well, there are a few people...

ESTRICH: Quite a few...

KELLY: Don't — There's a few people that, Susan, that do not like my — do not like my opinion. And they've suggested that they would like to recall me.

And let me tell you, I've been in politics for 30 years in this state, and I can assure you that the people of my city will take a look at my record. And St. Paul is doing very well.

HANNITY: Mr. Mayor, thank you for your intellectual honesty and lack of partisanship. It's actually refreshing. Thanks for being with us.

ESTRICH: You wouldn't say that if you were a Republican switching Democrat.

HANNITY: Will Scott Peterson's mistress, Amber Frey, make it to the stand this week? Next week, is this the last chance for the prosecution to make their case?

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