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Lieberman Onboard the Election Express

Aired January 23, 2004 - 13:48   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: Well, we're told in New Hampshire that the motto there is "Live free or die." What a perfect place for our Richard Quest to be, inside the CNN bus. Not quite sure what he's up to. I'm a little nervous. But, Richard, what's happening?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, yes, we're aboard the CNN Election Express, the bus that is going to carry CNN from North to South to East To west -- to Missouri, to Arizona, to New York, to Florida -- yes!

Sorry, was quite taken over by a certain recent event concerning Howard Dean. It gripped me.

Listen, the beauty of the CNN Election Express is you never know who is going to come on board to discuss matters of great policy and politic. For instance, just an hour or so ago, I had Senator Joe Lieberman coming with me on to the bus. I wanted him to show him and Hadassah, his wife, our lovely facilities and to discuss some policy issues.

And there was a serious point to this because what I wanted to get an understanding from Senator Lieberman was why, when everybody says Iraq and what's happening in Iraq is so important -- and so expensive -- why then do electors here in New Hampshire not say that is one of the issues that's going to decide who they will vote for? Why is Iraq high on everybody's wish list, and low on everybody's voting list?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D-CT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There's been all sorts of debate, of course, within the country and within the Democratic presidential contest about Iraq. An you know I've taken a strong position, had some controversy.

But ultimately in this election, people are more worried about life here at home. Whether they're going to have their job, whether they can afford health insurance, what about the environment? And I believe they're voting more those issues right now because they're right close. They get up and worry about those every day. Iraq, they have opinions on, but it seems far away.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUEST: So, Kyra, there you have it, you see. Just right over there, in that spot, on the CNN Election Express, Senator Lieberman discussing the major issues of the day.

PHILLIPS: OK. I heard something about you and a harmonica. Is this true?

QUEST: Now, look, a gentlemen -- a really nice gentleman from a company which I think is called Harmonical Necklace -- they are necklaces with harmonicas on them. They're very small. They are -- new Hampshire, first in the nation, the primary harmonica. And on the back, there are instructions for how I can play "Hail to the Chief." All right? Are you ready to bear with me on this one?

PHILLIPS: I'm never ready for you, but that's the best part, Richard.

QUEST: All right, Kyra, here we go. This could be -- I could get thrown out of these United States for what I'm about to do. But here we go.

PHILLIPS: It won't be the first time.

QUEST: Deep breath, deep breath.

(MUSIC)

PHILLIPS: We are all clapping. We are all clapping here in the newsroom, Richard. I think you ought to play for queen when you get home.

QUEST: I'll tell you what, Kyra. By the time I leave New Hampshire -- here's a -- next Wednesday , I promise you that on the primary harmonica, I'll be able to do a rendition of "God Save the Queen."

PHILLIPS: Outstanding. And you know what, Richard? I'm going to hold you to it, pal.

QUEST: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Excellent. God love him. Thank you, Richard Quest. You keep practicing, my friend.

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 January 23, 2004 - 13:48   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we're told in New Hampshire that the motto there is "Live free or die." What a perfect place for our Richard Quest to be, inside the CNN bus. Not quite sure what he's up to. I'm a little nervous. But, Richard, what's happening?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, yes, we're aboard the CNN Election Express, the bus that is going to carry CNN from North to South to East To west -- to Missouri, to Arizona, to New York, to Florida -- yes!

Sorry, was quite taken over by a certain recent event concerning Howard Dean. It gripped me.

Listen, the beauty of the CNN Election Express is you never know who is going to come on board to discuss matters of great policy and politic. For instance, just an hour or so ago, I had Senator Joe Lieberman coming with me on to the bus. I wanted him to show him and Hadassah, his wife, our lovely facilities and to discuss some policy issues.

And there was a serious point to this because what I wanted to get an understanding from Senator Lieberman was why, when everybody says Iraq and what's happening in Iraq is so important -- and so expensive -- why then do electors here in New Hampshire not say that is one of the issues that's going to decide who they will vote for? Why is Iraq high on everybody's wish list, and low on everybody's voting list?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D-CT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There's been all sorts of debate, of course, within the country and within the Democratic presidential contest about Iraq. An you know I've taken a strong position, had some controversy.

But ultimately in this election, people are more worried about life here at home. Whether they're going to have their job, whether they can afford health insurance, what about the environment? And I believe they're voting more those issues right now because they're right close. They get up and worry about those every day. Iraq, they have opinions on, but it seems far away.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUEST: So, Kyra, there you have it, you see. Just right over there, in that spot, on the CNN Election Express, Senator Lieberman discussing the major issues of the day.

PHILLIPS: OK. I heard something about you and a harmonica. Is this true?

QUEST: Now, look, a gentlemen -- a really nice gentleman from a company which I think is called Harmonical Necklace -- they are necklaces with harmonicas on them. They're very small. They are -- new Hampshire, first in the nation, the primary harmonica. And on the back, there are instructions for how I can play "Hail to the Chief." All right? Are you ready to bear with me on this one?

PHILLIPS: I'm never ready for you, but that's the best part, Richard.

QUEST: All right, Kyra, here we go. This could be -- I could get thrown out of these United States for what I'm about to do. But here we go.

PHILLIPS: It won't be the first time.

QUEST: Deep breath, deep breath.

(MUSIC)

PHILLIPS: We are all clapping. We are all clapping here in the newsroom, Richard. I think you ought to play for queen when you get home.

QUEST: I'll tell you what, Kyra. By the time I leave New Hampshire -- here's a -- next Wednesday , I promise you that on the primary harmonica, I'll be able to do a rendition of "God Save the Queen."

PHILLIPS: Outstanding. And you know what, Richard? I'm going to hold you to it, pal.

QUEST: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Excellent. God love him. Thank you, Richard Quest. You keep practicing, my friend.

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