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CNN Live At Daybreak
America Strikes Back: Congressional Leaders Support and Back Bush
Aired October 08, 2001 - 08:17 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: Congressional leaders showing a united front in the ongoing campaign right now -- statements of support so far and joint backing after the air attacks on the Taliban.
We are now joined by two members of the House. Representative J.C. Watts, a Republican from Oklahoma -- live in Norman this morning -- sir, good morning to you.
REP. J.C. WATTS (R), OKLAHOMA: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: Also Representative Ellen Tauscher, a Democrat from California serving the Bay area -- both serve on the House Armed Services committee.
Representative Tauscher, to you first, and I want to get reaction from Mr. Watts as well.
Senator John Warner last night on "LARRY KING" said, and I'm going to quote him: "Think of yourself" -- talking to the American people -- "Think of yourself as an agent, we're all in this together."
What is he saying there, and what can you add? Because let's face it, there are people who are on edge at this point -- don't want to push any panic buttons. But it is the case for many. What can you add?
REP. ELLEN TAUSCHER (D), DEMOCRAT: Well, we are a united American people, and we're all in this together. We have fighting men and women at risk right now in the Middle East and around the world. We have to have a heightened alert.
But at the same time, I think the president was right yesterday. We need patience and calm from the American people, but also a sense that we are united in this fight against terrorism. We have joined the world community in this fight, and I think that the American people are very much committed to ridding the world of terrorism.
But at the same time, we have to go about our daily business. Our kids are going to go to school tomorrow. We're going to go back to work, and at the same time, we have to be careful.
HEMMER: Stay patient and stay alert. Representative Watts, what else? WATTS: Well, I just -- I echo those thoughts that Ellen just shared. I think the president and the administration -- he and his team -- I think they have put together the right coalition. They have gone about it the right way.
Back on September 11, I am sure there was a lot of folks that thought that we should react out of emotion, but I think he has laid this thing out pretty carefully. And I think the American people will be patient. There's never -- we're all a little fidgety in time of war, and we're hoping and praying that everything falls into place, and that you put these things together the right way.
So I expect us to be a little fidgety right now -- all of us as American citizens. But I do think it has been put together the right way, and we continue to pray that it will be executed properly.
HEMMER: Representative Tauscher, you are part of this Homeland Security -- a cabinet-level position that will be formalized a bit later today in Washington.
How will this system work? How will the operation work, and how will Americans see it?
TAUSCHER: Well, I'm hoping that we can give more authority to Governor Ridge, who has a terrific pedigree as a former House member, a Vietnam veteran and a governor of a big state. And I'm hoping that we can give him actually more authority than just
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: You said more authority. How so?
TAUSCHER: Well, I hope that we create a real agency of Homeland Security and defense, and that we begin to move some of the bureaucracy out of the way -- that we put a transportation security administration together below that where we coordinate all of the modes of transportation -- where we have more than just a security adviser to the president, but we have a real agency that goes to work coordinating all of these various agencies from FEMA to Customs to the Border Patrol to the Centers of Disease Control.
We have to protect and prevent and respond for Homeland defense, and I'm hoping that we can give Governor Ridge even more authority over the short term.
HEMMER: I see a nod from Representative Watts. Continue on that if you could. How do you cut through the bureaucratic red tape? How do you cut through these various agencies and get them to function together and communicate together?
WATTS: Well, Bill, about two years ago -- starting about two years ago, I proposed and encouraged forming a select committee. The problem we have is we have about -- in responding to terrorism, we have about 40 different departments and agencies in the federal government that has some jurisdiction over terrorism. In the House of Representatives, we have about 14 committees and as many subcommittees that has a hand in terrorism. So in bureaucracies, you get involved in turf battles and egos and personalities, and I think what Governor Ridge -- he needs to have the authority -- the budget authority, the teeth, the strength, if you will, to have cross jurisdictional authority to bring everybody together to combat terrorism and also have a way or come up with a plan to respond when and if it happens.
So this agency is long overdue. I commend the president for doing this. Governor Ridge has his work cut out for him, but he's qualified. And I think he's prepared to take on this very difficult, but very important challenge.
HEMMER: Got it. And at this point, that system is going to have to be put in fast-forward, given the circumstances across the country. It will be a huge challenge ahead.
J.C. Watts -- Ellen Tauscher -- thank you -- we'll talk again, all right?
TAUSCHER: Thank you, Bill.
WATTS: Thank you.
HEMMER: All right.
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