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American Morning

White House Defends Last Week's Flight by President Bush

Aired May 08, 2003 - 07:32   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get to politics again right now, where one man's unbelievably positive experience right now is another man's taxpayer funded photo-op. Those are quotes from Washington yesterday. The White House defending last week's flight by President Bush to land on the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln.
Democrats say its "flamboyant showmanship."

Senator Robert Byrd called it "a stunt," saying it trivialized the war in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. ROBERT BYRD (D), WEST VIRGINIA: To me it is an affront to the Americans killed or injured in Iraq for the president to exploit the trappings of war for the momentary spectacle of a speech.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: That was Robert Byrd.

Today, Bill Schneider checks in on the political fallout on the Hill and down at the White House -- Bill, good morning to you.

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

HEMMER: Where were the Democrats on this a week ago? Why now?

SCHNEIDER: Well, because the White House revealed that the president could have taken a helicopter to land on that ship. It was only about 30 miles offshore. But according to the White House, the president wanted "to see an arrival on a carrier the same way pilots see an arrival on a carrier." And the Democrats said oh, really? They thought it was what is being called the mother of all photo-ops and they're accusing the president of exploiting it for political gain.

There's a risk in this because he is, after all, the commander- in-chief and if he wants to dress up as top gun, a lot of Americans say let him do it. He's the head of the military.

HEMMER: Yes, and the White House offering no apologies.

Listen to how the president addressed it yesterday, Bill.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It was an honor for me to go on the USS Abraham Lincoln. I appreciate the chance to thank our troops. It was an unbelievably positive experience.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Back in Washington, Bill, it's my understanding some Democrats think Robert Byrd went too far, is that right?

SCHNEIDER: There is a division among Democrats, although some, like Henry Waxman and John Conyers, are demanding to know who paid for this? Well, the taxpayer paid for it. And they're saying, well, it was really a political trip. The Democrats are taking a risk here because this was a highly successful war. It was very widely supported. And, again, he is the commander-in-chief. There's a risk here for Democrats.

But what they're really doing is taking this war and making it more partisan. It started out as a partisan war. Democrats were against it, Republicans were for it. Democrats believed the president contrived the whole war for political gain, not really to protect Americans.

Then, as it succeeded, it drew a lot of popular support. Now, it's becoming a more partisan issue once again.

HEMMER: Yes. How long do you think this lingers? You know D.C..

SCHNEIDER: There's an election coming up and in an election everything is partisan. I think this is the opening bell. It says everything the president does is going to be seen in a partisan light, not just his campaigning for tax cuts, but also even his gesture to support, to thank the troops in a military war. Everything is partisan and the country is still as deeply divided between Democrats and Republicans as it was in 2000, and that's likely to persist for quite a while.

HEMMER: Yes, there's a commentary today in the "Wall Street Journal." I'll read a paragraph for you, Bill. "Sure, it was a photo-op, as if those are unknown in politics. Has Senator Byrd never had his picture snapped with West Virginia coal miners or in front of one of his legendary pork barrel courthouses?"

The argument -- back to a photo-op -- takes us where on this?

SCHNEIDER: It takes us back to politics. It takes us back to the opening of the 2004 campaign and it takes us back to a situation where you're going to see more bitter argument between Democrats and Republicans over everything, in this case including a very significant military victory.

HEMMER: Thanks, Bill.

Bill Schneider in D.C.

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 May 8, 2003 - 07:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get to politics again right now, where one man's unbelievably positive experience right now is another man's taxpayer funded photo-op. Those are quotes from Washington yesterday. The White House defending last week's flight by President Bush to land on the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln.
Democrats say its "flamboyant showmanship."

Senator Robert Byrd called it "a stunt," saying it trivialized the war in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. ROBERT BYRD (D), WEST VIRGINIA: To me it is an affront to the Americans killed or injured in Iraq for the president to exploit the trappings of war for the momentary spectacle of a speech.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: That was Robert Byrd.

Today, Bill Schneider checks in on the political fallout on the Hill and down at the White House -- Bill, good morning to you.

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

HEMMER: Where were the Democrats on this a week ago? Why now?

SCHNEIDER: Well, because the White House revealed that the president could have taken a helicopter to land on that ship. It was only about 30 miles offshore. But according to the White House, the president wanted "to see an arrival on a carrier the same way pilots see an arrival on a carrier." And the Democrats said oh, really? They thought it was what is being called the mother of all photo-ops and they're accusing the president of exploiting it for political gain.

There's a risk in this because he is, after all, the commander- in-chief and if he wants to dress up as top gun, a lot of Americans say let him do it. He's the head of the military.

HEMMER: Yes, and the White House offering no apologies.

Listen to how the president addressed it yesterday, Bill.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It was an honor for me to go on the USS Abraham Lincoln. I appreciate the chance to thank our troops. It was an unbelievably positive experience.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Back in Washington, Bill, it's my understanding some Democrats think Robert Byrd went too far, is that right?

SCHNEIDER: There is a division among Democrats, although some, like Henry Waxman and John Conyers, are demanding to know who paid for this? Well, the taxpayer paid for it. And they're saying, well, it was really a political trip. The Democrats are taking a risk here because this was a highly successful war. It was very widely supported. And, again, he is the commander-in-chief. There's a risk here for Democrats.

But what they're really doing is taking this war and making it more partisan. It started out as a partisan war. Democrats were against it, Republicans were for it. Democrats believed the president contrived the whole war for political gain, not really to protect Americans.

Then, as it succeeded, it drew a lot of popular support. Now, it's becoming a more partisan issue once again.

HEMMER: Yes. How long do you think this lingers? You know D.C..

SCHNEIDER: There's an election coming up and in an election everything is partisan. I think this is the opening bell. It says everything the president does is going to be seen in a partisan light, not just his campaigning for tax cuts, but also even his gesture to support, to thank the troops in a military war. Everything is partisan and the country is still as deeply divided between Democrats and Republicans as it was in 2000, and that's likely to persist for quite a while.

HEMMER: Yes, there's a commentary today in the "Wall Street Journal." I'll read a paragraph for you, Bill. "Sure, it was a photo-op, as if those are unknown in politics. Has Senator Byrd never had his picture snapped with West Virginia coal miners or in front of one of his legendary pork barrel courthouses?"

The argument -- back to a photo-op -- takes us where on this?

SCHNEIDER: It takes us back to politics. It takes us back to the opening of the 2004 campaign and it takes us back to a situation where you're going to see more bitter argument between Democrats and Republicans over everything, in this case including a very significant military victory.

HEMMER: Thanks, Bill.

Bill Schneider in D.C.

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