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CNN Live Saturday

Interview With Phil Gingrey, Elijah Cummings

Aired July 12, 2003 - 12:26   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.


RHONDA SCHAFFLER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk now, about the president's African tour with two members of Congress, representative Elijah Cummings, he's a democrat from Maryland and chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, he is in Baltimore, down the road in Washington, representative Phil Gingrey, a first term republican from Georgia.
Gentlemen, thanks so much for joining, we do appreciate it, today.

REP. PHIL GINGREY (R), GEORGIA: Thank you Rhonda.

SCHAFFLER: Congressman Cummings, let me start with you, how significant was this journey?

REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D), MARYLAND: I think it's good that the president went to Africa and I think it does have significant significance. On the other hand, we have a president that refuses to meet with the Congressional Black Caucus, and we are only 15 blocks away and he has refused to do that for two and a half years, to not consult with us at all about this trip. But, I think the real significance of this trip will come when we see the follow-up to what the president has talked about in Africa, to see how moved he truly was and whether the republicans in congress will pass the kind of legislation that he's talking about. As you probably know, just a day or so ago, while he was touting this $15 billion aid package for AIDS in Africa, the Foreign Operations Committee was slashing it in the Congress in Washington, so -- you know, we have to wait and see.

SCHAFFLER: Congressman Gingrey let's continue the discussion on that point now. Is the president going to get the money he's requesting?

GINGREY: Rhonda he is, and I was very proud as a part of the republican majority, we overwhelmingly supported that $15 billion AIDS package and the Congressional Black Caucus notwithstanding, I was very proud to me see my friend, former mayor of Atlanta, and former ambassador to the United Nations, Andrew Young standing side by side with our president on the African trip.

SCHAFFLER: Congressman Cummings, a question for you. We know this trip has been overshadowed by concerns about weapons of mass destruction, you know of the development late yesterday, with George Tenet. Did that take away in this trip?

CUMMINGS: I'm not really sure. I would hope that the president, when he gave the State of the Union Address would have given an honest address and every single syllable being honest and have I no reason to doubt him. I do -- I am concerned about the fact, though, that we did go to war largely on information that now we find to be incorrect, and I think with the type of intelligence operations that we have and all the money that we spend in -- with regard to intelligence, we should have accurate information, particularly with regard to a war where thousands have been killed.

SCHAFFLER: And Congressman Gingrey, how much of a concern is that among some republicans now, in Washington?

GINGREY: Well, Rhonda, the CIA obviously vetted that speech. The president gave the speech, he gave it on what he thought was factual information and we know now that part of that is information was inaccurate. The president has stated that, so has the CIA director, George Tenet, but I think this is overstated, overwrought, over reported and it's time to move on. The president was telling the absolute truth based on the information he had.

SCHAFFLER: We know that story probably won't go away, but will move on at the moment. Congressman Cummings, question for you here. Why is Africa now, an area that the Bush administration is starting to pay more attention to?

CUMMINGS: Well, I think your reporter said it quite accurately, I think that we have a situation where there is a hope that Africa does not become a breeding ground for more terrorists and I think that that's one of the president's concerns. But, Africa should have been a major concern to the United States a long time ago. That's why we passed the AGOA revisions with regard to trade, and that's why the Congressional Black Caucus pushed the president. I want to be very clear on that. That $15 billion did not come by accident. The Congressional Black Caucus pushed the president to make sure that that did happen. And we're glad it happened.

But the fact is, Africa is a very, very important continent, and I think finally the Congress is coming to the conclusion and the president is coming to the conclusion that it is such an important area.

SCHAFFLER: Of course, another big issue this week was the situation about possibly sending peacekeeping troops to Liberia. Congressman Gingrey, what do you think should happen there?

GINGREY: Well, first of all, let me just say that I agree completely with my colleague from Maryland, Congressman Cummings. He's absolutely right. And I'm glad that the Congressional Black Caucus was able to convince President Bush, if that's the way it happened, and that he responded.

In regard to troops, I think that's something that the president will be very careful about doing. I think he would want to consult with the United Nations before doing that, but as the congressman pointed out, there are a lot of Muslims particularly in Nigeria and part of this mission is concerned about AIDS and HIV, but also about terrorism, and worldwide terrorism. SCHAFFLER: Congressman Gingrey, Congressman Cummings, a lot of issues. Thanks so much for joining us on this Saturday. We appreciate it.

CUMMINGS: Thank you, Rhonda.

GINGREY: Thank you, Rhonda.

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 July 12, 2003 - 12:26   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RHONDA SCHAFFLER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk now, about the president's African tour with two members of Congress, representative Elijah Cummings, he's a democrat from Maryland and chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, he is in Baltimore, down the road in Washington, representative Phil Gingrey, a first term republican from Georgia.
Gentlemen, thanks so much for joining, we do appreciate it, today.

REP. PHIL GINGREY (R), GEORGIA: Thank you Rhonda.

SCHAFFLER: Congressman Cummings, let me start with you, how significant was this journey?

REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D), MARYLAND: I think it's good that the president went to Africa and I think it does have significant significance. On the other hand, we have a president that refuses to meet with the Congressional Black Caucus, and we are only 15 blocks away and he has refused to do that for two and a half years, to not consult with us at all about this trip. But, I think the real significance of this trip will come when we see the follow-up to what the president has talked about in Africa, to see how moved he truly was and whether the republicans in congress will pass the kind of legislation that he's talking about. As you probably know, just a day or so ago, while he was touting this $15 billion aid package for AIDS in Africa, the Foreign Operations Committee was slashing it in the Congress in Washington, so -- you know, we have to wait and see.

SCHAFFLER: Congressman Gingrey let's continue the discussion on that point now. Is the president going to get the money he's requesting?

GINGREY: Rhonda he is, and I was very proud as a part of the republican majority, we overwhelmingly supported that $15 billion AIDS package and the Congressional Black Caucus notwithstanding, I was very proud to me see my friend, former mayor of Atlanta, and former ambassador to the United Nations, Andrew Young standing side by side with our president on the African trip.

SCHAFFLER: Congressman Cummings, a question for you. We know this trip has been overshadowed by concerns about weapons of mass destruction, you know of the development late yesterday, with George Tenet. Did that take away in this trip?

CUMMINGS: I'm not really sure. I would hope that the president, when he gave the State of the Union Address would have given an honest address and every single syllable being honest and have I no reason to doubt him. I do -- I am concerned about the fact, though, that we did go to war largely on information that now we find to be incorrect, and I think with the type of intelligence operations that we have and all the money that we spend in -- with regard to intelligence, we should have accurate information, particularly with regard to a war where thousands have been killed.

SCHAFFLER: And Congressman Gingrey, how much of a concern is that among some republicans now, in Washington?

GINGREY: Well, Rhonda, the CIA obviously vetted that speech. The president gave the speech, he gave it on what he thought was factual information and we know now that part of that is information was inaccurate. The president has stated that, so has the CIA director, George Tenet, but I think this is overstated, overwrought, over reported and it's time to move on. The president was telling the absolute truth based on the information he had.

SCHAFFLER: We know that story probably won't go away, but will move on at the moment. Congressman Cummings, question for you here. Why is Africa now, an area that the Bush administration is starting to pay more attention to?

CUMMINGS: Well, I think your reporter said it quite accurately, I think that we have a situation where there is a hope that Africa does not become a breeding ground for more terrorists and I think that that's one of the president's concerns. But, Africa should have been a major concern to the United States a long time ago. That's why we passed the AGOA revisions with regard to trade, and that's why the Congressional Black Caucus pushed the president. I want to be very clear on that. That $15 billion did not come by accident. The Congressional Black Caucus pushed the president to make sure that that did happen. And we're glad it happened.

But the fact is, Africa is a very, very important continent, and I think finally the Congress is coming to the conclusion and the president is coming to the conclusion that it is such an important area.

SCHAFFLER: Of course, another big issue this week was the situation about possibly sending peacekeeping troops to Liberia. Congressman Gingrey, what do you think should happen there?

GINGREY: Well, first of all, let me just say that I agree completely with my colleague from Maryland, Congressman Cummings. He's absolutely right. And I'm glad that the Congressional Black Caucus was able to convince President Bush, if that's the way it happened, and that he responded.

In regard to troops, I think that's something that the president will be very careful about doing. I think he would want to consult with the United Nations before doing that, but as the congressman pointed out, there are a lot of Muslims particularly in Nigeria and part of this mission is concerned about AIDS and HIV, but also about terrorism, and worldwide terrorism. SCHAFFLER: Congressman Gingrey, Congressman Cummings, a lot of issues. Thanks so much for joining us on this Saturday. We appreciate it.

CUMMINGS: Thank you, Rhonda.

GINGREY: Thank you, Rhonda.

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