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House Members Feel Pressure Over Resolution

Aired October 10, 2002 - 14:16   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: On Capitol Hill, they're lining up for and against. The debate, for the most part, is over. It's time to vote. Should Congress give President Bush the authority he wants to wage war against Iraq?
Let's bring in CNN Congressional Correspondent Kate Snow. What do you think, how is everyone going to vote, Kate?

KATE SNOW, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, it is a bit of a foregone conclusion, actually. The House expected to vote just about 15 minutes from now. We do expect that it will be an overwhelming vote of support for the president for this resolution, authorizing him to use force in Iraq.

Probably more than 300 members of the House will vote along with the resolution, allowing this to happen, allowing it to go forward. One key leader in all of this has been the leader of the Democrats in the House, Minority Leader Dick Gephardt.

You remember last week he stood alongside the president, endorsing this resolution. A short time ago, he and other leaders in the House took to the floor of the House. Mr. Gephardt saying that this is a moment of sacred responsibility.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DICK GEPHARDT (D-MO), MINORITY LEADER: No one wants to go to war. No one wants to put our young men and women in harm's way, and I know we hope that our actions today will avert war, but our decision is not so simple, because we must weigh the dangers of sending our young people into hostilities against the threat presented by Iraq to our citizens' safety.

Every member of Congress must make their own decision on the level of the threat posed by Iraq and what to do to respond to that threat.

REP. TOM DELAY (R-TX), MAJORITY WHIP: Trust the cherished principles on which we were founded. Put faith in freedom and raise your voices, and send this message to the world -- the forces of freedom are on the march, and terrorists will find no safe harbor in this world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: Now, the resolution that they both support is a resolution that supports diplomatic efforts. It tells the president that he should try to work through the United Nations Security Council, although it doesn't force him to do that. It authorizes the president to use military force against Iraq in order to defend U.S. national security interests, and to enforce U.N. Security Council resolutions.

And finally, it requires congressional consultation -- the president would have to report back to the Congress after authorizing force every 60 days.

Now, there is a vocal minority speaking out against this resolution, both in the Senate and in the House. In the House, some of them saying that the resolution is simply too -- it gives too much latitude to President Bush. They complain that he wouldn't have to go through the multi-national community, and that is something they feel that he must do.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DENNIS KUCINICH (D), OHIO: It is fear which leads us to war. It is fear which leads us to believe that we must kill or be killed. Fear which leads us to attack those who have not attacked us. Fear which leads us to ring our nation and the very heavens with weapons of mass destruction. The American people need the attention of their government today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: About 100 or so Democrats along with Mr. Kucinich there are expected to vote against this resolution, Kyra, so that is a fairly strong showing for the opponents in the House.

In the Senate, we expect maybe about 15 or 20 Democrats to vote against the resolution as well when that vote comes up.

And one final note, Kyra. We're just a few weeks away from the midterm congressional elections. A lot of questions about whether politics is playing into any of this. I had an interesting conversation with a House Democrat who said to me that he's hearing on the floor of the House from other members saying, you know, I really don't want to vote against this -- don't want to vote for this resolution, but I feel like I have no choice.

He says he's had a number of members say that they feel like they have no choice but to vote for this, and show support for the president with the elections looming -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Can imagine, a lot of pressure.

Kate Snow on the Hill. Thanks, Kate.

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 October 10, 2002 - 14:16   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: On Capitol Hill, they're lining up for and against. The debate, for the most part, is over. It's time to vote. Should Congress give President Bush the authority he wants to wage war against Iraq?
Let's bring in CNN Congressional Correspondent Kate Snow. What do you think, how is everyone going to vote, Kate?

KATE SNOW, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, it is a bit of a foregone conclusion, actually. The House expected to vote just about 15 minutes from now. We do expect that it will be an overwhelming vote of support for the president for this resolution, authorizing him to use force in Iraq.

Probably more than 300 members of the House will vote along with the resolution, allowing this to happen, allowing it to go forward. One key leader in all of this has been the leader of the Democrats in the House, Minority Leader Dick Gephardt.

You remember last week he stood alongside the president, endorsing this resolution. A short time ago, he and other leaders in the House took to the floor of the House. Mr. Gephardt saying that this is a moment of sacred responsibility.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DICK GEPHARDT (D-MO), MINORITY LEADER: No one wants to go to war. No one wants to put our young men and women in harm's way, and I know we hope that our actions today will avert war, but our decision is not so simple, because we must weigh the dangers of sending our young people into hostilities against the threat presented by Iraq to our citizens' safety.

Every member of Congress must make their own decision on the level of the threat posed by Iraq and what to do to respond to that threat.

REP. TOM DELAY (R-TX), MAJORITY WHIP: Trust the cherished principles on which we were founded. Put faith in freedom and raise your voices, and send this message to the world -- the forces of freedom are on the march, and terrorists will find no safe harbor in this world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: Now, the resolution that they both support is a resolution that supports diplomatic efforts. It tells the president that he should try to work through the United Nations Security Council, although it doesn't force him to do that. It authorizes the president to use military force against Iraq in order to defend U.S. national security interests, and to enforce U.N. Security Council resolutions.

And finally, it requires congressional consultation -- the president would have to report back to the Congress after authorizing force every 60 days.

Now, there is a vocal minority speaking out against this resolution, both in the Senate and in the House. In the House, some of them saying that the resolution is simply too -- it gives too much latitude to President Bush. They complain that he wouldn't have to go through the multi-national community, and that is something they feel that he must do.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DENNIS KUCINICH (D), OHIO: It is fear which leads us to war. It is fear which leads us to believe that we must kill or be killed. Fear which leads us to attack those who have not attacked us. Fear which leads us to ring our nation and the very heavens with weapons of mass destruction. The American people need the attention of their government today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: About 100 or so Democrats along with Mr. Kucinich there are expected to vote against this resolution, Kyra, so that is a fairly strong showing for the opponents in the House.

In the Senate, we expect maybe about 15 or 20 Democrats to vote against the resolution as well when that vote comes up.

And one final note, Kyra. We're just a few weeks away from the midterm congressional elections. A lot of questions about whether politics is playing into any of this. I had an interesting conversation with a House Democrat who said to me that he's hearing on the floor of the House from other members saying, you know, I really don't want to vote against this -- don't want to vote for this resolution, but I feel like I have no choice.

He says he's had a number of members say that they feel like they have no choice but to vote for this, and show support for the president with the elections looming -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Can imagine, a lot of pressure.

Kate Snow on the Hill. Thanks, Kate.

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