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American Morning

House Speaker Hastert Discusses Controversy in Bush Campaign

Aired May 15, 2002 - 08:27   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 take you to the White House right now, where we catch up with Dennis Hastert, the speaker of the House. He has just emerged from a congressional leadership breakfast with the president.

Thank you for your patience, sir. Appreciate your standing by.

I know you have a lot of territory to cover with the president this morning. Before we get to some of that content, I would just like to ask you about your reaction to the so-called Photogate flap. You've got the Democrats charging that the RNC, in using this picture of the president on the phone with the vice president on 9/11 cheapens the office, Al Gore calling it a disgrace, Terry McCauliffe saying its capitalizing on one of the most tragic moments in our nation's history.

The Democrats say this, these pictures should be pulled. What do you think the Republicans should do?

REP. DENNIS HASTERT (R-IL), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Well, I was surprised by the pictures myself. But, however, it's a very historic time in this country's history. I'd like to have one of those pictures myself. I know that they're available. You know, it's interesting, I have a picture on my wall of Abraham Lincoln signing a very important document during the Civil War. I know that picture was sold commercially. People wanted it because it was historically significant and I think it's the same with these pictures.

ZAHN: So when you say you were surprised by the picture, were you surprised that it was used in this fashion?

HASTERT: I was not aware of it going on sale.

ZAHN: And do you think it's, I know you say you'd personally like to have a copy of it, but do you think this was a bad move on the RNC's part?

HASTERT: You know, I think it's a decision that was made. It was made. These pictures were sold and that's it. People are going to buy them and -- if they want them. And if they don't want them, they don't have to buy them.

ZAHN: But at a point where the president has sort of unprecedented popularity ratings, do you think the RNC needed to do this?

HASTERT: Well, I'm just saying it's something that there was a demand for it and the RNC obviously thought it was important to do and they did it. And probably they'll think twice the next time they do it.

ZAHN: I don't want to put words in your mouth, but you're not sounding like you're giving a hundred percent endorsement here.

HASTERT: Well, I didn't know about it until it happened.

ZAHN: All right, let's move on to what you did talk about with the president today. Anything new on the Middle East?

HASTERT: Well, nothing's new. It's a long trek to try to make sure that we move with the government of Israel, with the Palestinians and with the immediate neighbors so that we can have a peace process that's long lasting. I think everybody wants to get to that point.

We all understand that there has to be certain parameters to be met before that can happen. We have to have somebody who can credibly speak for the Palestinians and all those things have to happen before that peace process can be consummated.

So we're watching and we're working. We're supporting the president trying to get to that process.

ZAHN: Do you think everybody in the administration is on the same page when it comes to what the U.S. strategy should be?

HASTERT: I think everybody's heart's in the right place. I think everybody wants to just make sure that that peace process takes place. I think there's some folks who have different ideas and different approaches, but that's why you have a multiple of ideas within an administration like this.

ZAHN: Well, we appreciate, again, your patience when we needed to go to that breaking news out of Philadelphia.

HASTERT: My pleasure.

ZAHN: House Speaker Dennis Hastert, as always, good to see you.

HASTERT: Thank you.

ZAHN: Thanks for your time this morning.

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