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CNN Live At Daybreak

Frist Future, Next Senate Leader

Aired December 23, 2002 - 06:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get right to the top story this morning, a big break for Senator Bill Frist. The Tennessee Republican is expected to be voted in as majority leader today, following Trent Lott's fall from power.
Jason Carroll visited Frist at his home in Nashville.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, it was sort of a strange moment, the interview with Senator Bill Frist. I went out to his residence to try to get to talk to him about everything that's been going on. His teenage son answered the door and said that his father had just gotten out of the shower. I started asking him some questions, and Senator Frist started responding from up a stairway, and then I started yelling out questions, he was responding. It was sort of one of those strange TV moments.

Basically, Senator Frist told me that he is not wanting to talk specifics until the vote is complete and final. Again, the vote will be happening later on today, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Once that vote is finished, Senator Frist says he will come out and give some sort of a formal statement.

He says he's been keeping a low profile for the past three weeks, not wanting to disrupt the process.

When I asked him about being majority leader, he said -- quote -- "This is something I didn't go out and seek." I asked him what he's been doing for the past few days. He said that he got in. As soon as he got into Nashville, he said that he's been basically spending time with his family, wanting to do that.

When I asked him what the whole ordeal has been like, he said -- quote -- "The whole thing has been really interesting."

Well, certainly things got a lot more interesting when Senator Trent Lott came out and spoke about who he thought was to blame for what happened to him. I want to read you a quote from an interview he did with the Associated Press. Here's what he had to say: "There are some people in Washington who have been trying to nail me for a long time. When you're from Mississippi and you're a conservative and you're a Christian, there are a lot of people that don't like that. I fell into their trap, and so I have only myself to blame."

Shortly after that interview, he gave an on-camera interview and talked a little bit more about what he meant about that statement -- take a listen.

SEN. TRENT LOTT (R), MISSISSIPPI: Again, I just don't think that there is any use in getting into that. I regret anybody that, you know, felt like they should take advantage of the opportunity to be critical of innocent people in my state, but then again, I'm not going to dwell on any kind of positive (ph). I'm going to try to find a way to move this in a positive direction. Do I -- you know, do I have hurt feelings? Yes. But to whom shall I ascribe them to, but myself in the end?

CARROLL: It might be interesting to hear what Senator Frist has to say about Senator Trent Lott's comments, but again, Frist will not be talking until that final vote is complete.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.






Aired December 23, 2002 - 06:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get right to the top story this morning, a big break for Senator Bill Frist. The Tennessee Republican is expected to be voted in as majority leader today, following Trent Lott's fall from power.
Jason Carroll visited Frist at his home in Nashville.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, it was sort of a strange moment, the interview with Senator Bill Frist. I went out to his residence to try to get to talk to him about everything that's been going on. His teenage son answered the door and said that his father had just gotten out of the shower. I started asking him some questions, and Senator Frist started responding from up a stairway, and then I started yelling out questions, he was responding. It was sort of one of those strange TV moments.

Basically, Senator Frist told me that he is not wanting to talk specifics until the vote is complete and final. Again, the vote will be happening later on today, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Once that vote is finished, Senator Frist says he will come out and give some sort of a formal statement.

He says he's been keeping a low profile for the past three weeks, not wanting to disrupt the process.

When I asked him about being majority leader, he said -- quote -- "This is something I didn't go out and seek." I asked him what he's been doing for the past few days. He said that he got in. As soon as he got into Nashville, he said that he's been basically spending time with his family, wanting to do that.

When I asked him what the whole ordeal has been like, he said -- quote -- "The whole thing has been really interesting."

Well, certainly things got a lot more interesting when Senator Trent Lott came out and spoke about who he thought was to blame for what happened to him. I want to read you a quote from an interview he did with the Associated Press. Here's what he had to say: "There are some people in Washington who have been trying to nail me for a long time. When you're from Mississippi and you're a conservative and you're a Christian, there are a lot of people that don't like that. I fell into their trap, and so I have only myself to blame."

Shortly after that interview, he gave an on-camera interview and talked a little bit more about what he meant about that statement -- take a listen.

SEN. TRENT LOTT (R), MISSISSIPPI: Again, I just don't think that there is any use in getting into that. I regret anybody that, you know, felt like they should take advantage of the opportunity to be critical of innocent people in my state, but then again, I'm not going to dwell on any kind of positive (ph). I'm going to try to find a way to move this in a positive direction. Do I -- you know, do I have hurt feelings? Yes. But to whom shall I ascribe them to, but myself in the end?

CARROLL: It might be interesting to hear what Senator Frist has to say about Senator Trent Lott's comments, but again, Frist will not be talking until that final vote is complete.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.