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CNN Live At Daybreak

Presidential Address: Mixed Reaction

Aired September 08, 2003 - 06:32   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In a speech to the nation, President Bush called Iraq the central battleground in the war on terror. He said he'll ask Congress for $87 billion to fight terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. President Bush said his administration will do whatever is necessary to promote freedom and make the U.S. more secure.
President Bush also said Secretary of State Colin Powell will meet with representatives from other countries to solicit their financial support.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Some of the attackers are members of the old Saddam regime who fled the battlefield and now fight in the shadows. Some of the attackers are foreign terrorists who have come to Iraq to pursue their war on America and other free nations. We cannot be certain to what extent these groups work together. We do know they have a common goal: reclaiming Iraq for tyranny.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Reaction is mixed to the president's speech. For that, let's talk with CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, who is on the telephone with us from Washington.

Suzanne -- is the White House admitting that this is likely to be a tough sell on Capitol Hill, given that this is a lot more money than anyone expected?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, it certainly was a lot more money than many expected, that $87 billion price tag. And as you mentioned before, it was definitely mixed. And while many lawmakers said they would support it, they did mention that it's going to do a number on the federal deficit, which we know is approaching $500 billion next year.

It was interesting what Senator Joe Biden said. He summed it up rather well. He said the president is going to have to eat some crow here, find some ways to fund this. And I think that that's what the administration is prepared to do, that Bush talks about the sacrifices that are going to have to be made.

Overall, the response was positive on the Republican side, as you can imagine. Republican Senator Chuck Hagel said this last night:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: This is a long-term effort. This is complicated. It is dangerous and difficult and uncertain. And we are going to need the imprimatur of all nations of the world involved as soon as we can in order to move the Iraqis into a position where they can govern themselves. And that, I think, will precipitate a quicker exit of America and American troops from Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, Fred, as you can imagine, the Democratic response, of course, was more critical, particularly from those who are trying to take the president's job. Senator Bob Graham, a Democratic presidential hopeful, really went to the heart of Mr. Bush's greatest strength: the fact that many Americans still -- it shows the majority in the polls -- trust the president in his role as commander-in-chief in the war on terror. Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D), FLORIDA: I think the president deceived the American people when we went to war about over-emphasizing the weapons of mass destruction which were available for immediate use. You'll notice none of that was talked about in his speech tonight.

I also think that the president has deceived the American people by inferring -- not inferring -- stating very explicitly that this was part of the war on terrorism. The fact is there was no evidence that Saddam Hussein was part of September the 11th.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: So, the point that the president was making last night, and what they hoped to convey to Americans, is essentially to prepare them for an occupation inside of Iraq that is going to be costing billions more than expected, a long-term commitment of troops and personnel, and the president's argument is that it's necessary for the sake of national security.

He also made the point, of course, that the United States is going to need a lot of help from the international community to pull this off -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Suzanne Malveaux, thanks very much for waking up with us this morning on DAYBREAK.

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 September 8, 2003 - 06:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In a speech to the nation, President Bush called Iraq the central battleground in the war on terror. He said he'll ask Congress for $87 billion to fight terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. President Bush said his administration will do whatever is necessary to promote freedom and make the U.S. more secure.
President Bush also said Secretary of State Colin Powell will meet with representatives from other countries to solicit their financial support.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Some of the attackers are members of the old Saddam regime who fled the battlefield and now fight in the shadows. Some of the attackers are foreign terrorists who have come to Iraq to pursue their war on America and other free nations. We cannot be certain to what extent these groups work together. We do know they have a common goal: reclaiming Iraq for tyranny.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Reaction is mixed to the president's speech. For that, let's talk with CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, who is on the telephone with us from Washington.

Suzanne -- is the White House admitting that this is likely to be a tough sell on Capitol Hill, given that this is a lot more money than anyone expected?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, it certainly was a lot more money than many expected, that $87 billion price tag. And as you mentioned before, it was definitely mixed. And while many lawmakers said they would support it, they did mention that it's going to do a number on the federal deficit, which we know is approaching $500 billion next year.

It was interesting what Senator Joe Biden said. He summed it up rather well. He said the president is going to have to eat some crow here, find some ways to fund this. And I think that that's what the administration is prepared to do, that Bush talks about the sacrifices that are going to have to be made.

Overall, the response was positive on the Republican side, as you can imagine. Republican Senator Chuck Hagel said this last night:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: This is a long-term effort. This is complicated. It is dangerous and difficult and uncertain. And we are going to need the imprimatur of all nations of the world involved as soon as we can in order to move the Iraqis into a position where they can govern themselves. And that, I think, will precipitate a quicker exit of America and American troops from Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, Fred, as you can imagine, the Democratic response, of course, was more critical, particularly from those who are trying to take the president's job. Senator Bob Graham, a Democratic presidential hopeful, really went to the heart of Mr. Bush's greatest strength: the fact that many Americans still -- it shows the majority in the polls -- trust the president in his role as commander-in-chief in the war on terror. Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D), FLORIDA: I think the president deceived the American people when we went to war about over-emphasizing the weapons of mass destruction which were available for immediate use. You'll notice none of that was talked about in his speech tonight.

I also think that the president has deceived the American people by inferring -- not inferring -- stating very explicitly that this was part of the war on terrorism. The fact is there was no evidence that Saddam Hussein was part of September the 11th.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: So, the point that the president was making last night, and what they hoped to convey to Americans, is essentially to prepare them for an occupation inside of Iraq that is going to be costing billions more than expected, a long-term commitment of troops and personnel, and the president's argument is that it's necessary for the sake of national security.

He also made the point, of course, that the United States is going to need a lot of help from the international community to pull this off -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Suzanne Malveaux, thanks very much for waking up with us this morning on DAYBREAK.

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