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Interview With Rep. Henry Waxman

Aired May 07, 2003 - 15:10   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.


JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: We just heard from Republican Congressman J.D. Hayworth of Arizona, responding to criticism of President Bush's trip to the USS Lincoln last week.
For an opposing view, I'm joined now by Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman of California. Congressman Waxman, we just heard Congressman Hayworth say this is much ado about nothing.

Every president does this sort of thing. What makes this move by President Bush so different?

REP. HENRY WAXMAN (D), CALIFORNIA: The president's people lied to us and said he had to come in like a jet flyer pilot to land on that -- to land in the way he did. But it turned out what he did, I thought, was demeaning our troops for the bravery and the magnificent work on behalf of our nation by using them as a political prop for his reelection campaign.

That just seems to me inappropriate using armed services of this country and the Navy and the Air Force as his personal toys for his own personal political gain.

WOODRUFF: Well, on the contrary, Congressman, the White House would say, and has said, the president went out to thank these servicemen and women. We just heard Congressman Hayworth say that he's sure that everyone on board the Abraham Lincoln was very pleased that the president was out there to thank them.

WAXMAN: I have no problem with the president out there to thank them. But what he did was he landed in a way where he said he couldn't use a helicopter and he had to come in with all the whole rigmarole, looking like he was part of the war himself, fighting it personally, and, in fact, what he was doing was stage managing a campaign stunt, and that, to me, is use of taxpayer's money for politics and abuse and demeaning of our troops.

We've asked the General Accounting Office to tell us how much money all this cost, and I hope the president's campaign will pay the taxpayers back the cost.

WOODRUFF: Well, we -- the Pentagon has put out a statement saying it didn't cost about more, that the ship landed exactly -- got to home port exactly on time, and that it didn't cost any more to fly that fighter jet out to the plane -- out to the ship, rather, than it would have a helicopter.

WAXMAN: I trust the General Accounting Office more than I would the Pentagon about these costs, and I further think that even if it costs nothing, the president of the United States should have had the dignity to recognize that the troops fought this war, and he shouldn't be using them for his own political purposes.

WOODRUFF: How is this different, Congressman, though, from other -- we've seen President Reagan -- we've seen President Clinton go and appear with troops in different parts of the world. Every president does this. I guess I still don't understand how this is different.

WAXMAN: The difference is that Congressman Hayworth and the Republicans would have issued 25 subpoenas, held hearings calling us sympathizers of the enemy, and challenging our patriotism if the president of the United States and his supporters did something like this.

I wouldn't go that far. I'm not going to go over the top the way they have done in the past. But I think this was inappropriate for the president, and it's improper use of taxpayers' funds, and improper use of the military forces to be used for a campaign kickoff for his re-election.

WOODRUFF: So you're not buying the White House explanation?

WAXMAN: No, I'm not.

WOODRUFF: All right. Congressman Henry Waxman, who has sent a letter to the General Accounting Office. Thanks very much, Congressman.

WAXMAN: Thank you.

WOODRUFF: We appreciate you talking to us.

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 7, 2003 - 15:10   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: We just heard from Republican Congressman J.D. Hayworth of Arizona, responding to criticism of President Bush's trip to the USS Lincoln last week.
For an opposing view, I'm joined now by Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman of California. Congressman Waxman, we just heard Congressman Hayworth say this is much ado about nothing.

Every president does this sort of thing. What makes this move by President Bush so different?

REP. HENRY WAXMAN (D), CALIFORNIA: The president's people lied to us and said he had to come in like a jet flyer pilot to land on that -- to land in the way he did. But it turned out what he did, I thought, was demeaning our troops for the bravery and the magnificent work on behalf of our nation by using them as a political prop for his reelection campaign.

That just seems to me inappropriate using armed services of this country and the Navy and the Air Force as his personal toys for his own personal political gain.

WOODRUFF: Well, on the contrary, Congressman, the White House would say, and has said, the president went out to thank these servicemen and women. We just heard Congressman Hayworth say that he's sure that everyone on board the Abraham Lincoln was very pleased that the president was out there to thank them.

WAXMAN: I have no problem with the president out there to thank them. But what he did was he landed in a way where he said he couldn't use a helicopter and he had to come in with all the whole rigmarole, looking like he was part of the war himself, fighting it personally, and, in fact, what he was doing was stage managing a campaign stunt, and that, to me, is use of taxpayer's money for politics and abuse and demeaning of our troops.

We've asked the General Accounting Office to tell us how much money all this cost, and I hope the president's campaign will pay the taxpayers back the cost.

WOODRUFF: Well, we -- the Pentagon has put out a statement saying it didn't cost about more, that the ship landed exactly -- got to home port exactly on time, and that it didn't cost any more to fly that fighter jet out to the plane -- out to the ship, rather, than it would have a helicopter.

WAXMAN: I trust the General Accounting Office more than I would the Pentagon about these costs, and I further think that even if it costs nothing, the president of the United States should have had the dignity to recognize that the troops fought this war, and he shouldn't be using them for his own political purposes.

WOODRUFF: How is this different, Congressman, though, from other -- we've seen President Reagan -- we've seen President Clinton go and appear with troops in different parts of the world. Every president does this. I guess I still don't understand how this is different.

WAXMAN: The difference is that Congressman Hayworth and the Republicans would have issued 25 subpoenas, held hearings calling us sympathizers of the enemy, and challenging our patriotism if the president of the United States and his supporters did something like this.

I wouldn't go that far. I'm not going to go over the top the way they have done in the past. But I think this was inappropriate for the president, and it's improper use of taxpayers' funds, and improper use of the military forces to be used for a campaign kickoff for his re-election.

WOODRUFF: So you're not buying the White House explanation?

WAXMAN: No, I'm not.

WOODRUFF: All right. Congressman Henry Waxman, who has sent a letter to the General Accounting Office. Thanks very much, Congressman.

WAXMAN: Thank you.

WOODRUFF: We appreciate you talking to us.

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