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American Morning

Has Conservative Criticism Left Bush Open for Attack?

Aired April 22, 2002 - 08:24   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We have plenty to talk about with CNN Contributor William Bennett. We've been reporting through the morning, Bill, about the historic meeting tomorrow between top American clerics and the pope to address the sexual abuse crisis in the church, and we have got things that we want to talk to you about in the Middle East. Welcome. Al Gore is back, isn't he?

WILLIAM BENNETT, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yes, and Alec Baldwin is still here, too, as that last thing showed. Yes, Gore's back a little bit, we'll see. I don't think he's the candidate, but we'll see.

ZAHN: You know, the "Washington Post" today is reporting that because of the sustained criticism of President Bush by conservative leaders, such as yourself, that you've actually left the Democrats a great opening to attack a war-time president. Is that what you've done?

BENNETT: Well, I don't think so. The president has, unfortunately, I think in his Middle East policy of up to a few days ago, the Middle East policy last month, has left himself open for criticism from all sides, because he deviated from his own principles, principles he so clearly and articulately laid out in the State of the Union in the joint session. I don't think we serve a party or a president very well if don't court to (ph) principle, and if we don't try to remind people of the principles they enunciated. So, that was my criticism. There are some -- you're right about the story, Paula, in the "Post" -- in the "Washington Post." There was one in the "New York Times" yesterday. You have to distinguish among Republicans and conservatives, as you would among Democrats and liberals. There are some people who are never happy. You know, they were born unhappy, constitutionally unhappy, and they're going to be unhappy under any circumstances. And people who are genuinely inclined to be supportive, but who -- given circumstances will step back and say, no, we don't agree, and that's what happened in the Middle East.

And I think the Bush White House underestimated just how much stepping away from their principles of moral clarity have hurt them with the base. And it's interesting, a Southern base, a base of evangelical Protestants and Catholics has come on very strong in defense of Israel, and tried to make the president return to his earlier formulation.

ZAHN: I know you say you think it's the president's policies that have left him open to this criticism, but there are obviously are folks in the administration who think that your criticism, along with the criticism of Bill Crystal (ph) and other conservative leaders have undermined the president. Do you think you have hurt the president?

BENNETT: I don't think we have hurt the president. I think the president has hurt himself. I think he has now recovered. He's back, I think, on track, back in accord with his own principles. I think the way he was headed was disaster. Look, the reason -- I'm speaking just politically here, the reason the president, I think, was at stratospheric levels, is he enunciated a policy that was morally clear, morally unambiguous, principled, and sensible. When he stepped back from that by muddying the waters and saying, well, we are going to negotiate with the terrorists, an instigator of terrorism, Arafat, we are going to tell the Israelis they have to stop doing exactly what we are doing in Afghanistan. This began to confuse things. You know, it's a long run between now and election day this year, and the one two years hence. This president will be stronger if the president goes to the source of his strength, which is his convictions and his principles, and if he tries to rein in some of the folks in the State Department and elsewhere who are not, I think, in accord with his principles. So that, I think, is his problem.

But look, folks like me are going to take an independent stand. I hope that's why you have me on as a contributor...

ZAHN: Absolutely.

BENNETT: I am going to tell them what I think. I hope I am going to tell them what I think.

ZAHN: All right. Let me ask you this. There are also reports that on this last mission, that Colin Powell was sort of used as a sacrificial lamb, and the reports suggest that Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz sort of set him up for failure. Is there any truth to that analysis?

BENNETT: No, I don't think -- I don't know, because I am not privy to those inside conversations. But I don't think there's any question that there is a real difference of opinion inside the administration. People tend to think that Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz are the hawks here, and the State Department, which exists to negotiate, that's the reason for the existence of the State Department, to mediate and negotiate, has a different view of the world. What many of us feared is that Powell was going over there without a plan, and it looked as if it was headed for failure, and it was a failure. It did not work.

The president, however, has shifted gear, he has reminded us whose side he's on in this battle, and has saved the day. But he should have never been put in that situation. Whose fault is it? Ultimately, of course, it's the president's fault, but he can regain from this. He needs to -- somewhat analogous to what's going on in Rome. I think the president may want to bring in all his cabinet secretaries, and key advisers and say, this is our policy. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it has to be my policy.

ZAHN: Bill, we just have about 15 seconds left. Do you see anything substantive coming out of these meeting with the pope in Rome?

BENNETT: Yes. I think the pope will make himself very clear. I don't think he will say much, but I think he will indicate by his words that he is not happy, fidelity to principle, is what is needed, and you know, the bishops still don't get it.

Cardinal Law's actions are such that he should leave. If he is not removed, he should remove himself. This has nothing to do with whether there is a public clamor or tumult for his removal, that's irrelevant. What's relevant is what he has done, and the latest exposures here of him protecting a priest who was part of this man-boy love association and praising this priest, this is unconscionable. This is impossible. You don't have to hold to a council of perfection to know that this should not fly, and that what Law was doing here was not good at all.

ZAHN: But as you know, Cardinal Law has made it abundantly clear he doesn't plan to resign unless, maybe, perhaps forced to. Quick yes or no, do you see the pope putting some pressure on him to resign?

BENNETT: I think others will put the pressure on in Rome, but this man should put the pressure on himself. He should say, I am not worthy to serve, given what I have done. Hard for me to say, I've known Law for a long time, but this was horrible what happened, horrible.

ZAHN: All right. We are going to leave it there this morning. Bill Bennett, good to see you, thanks for helping us out...

(CROSSTALK)

BENNETT: Thanks, Paula.

ZAHN: ... on AM.

BENNETT: You bet.

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