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American Morning
Interview With Sen. Joseph Lieberman
Aired September 26, 2002 - 09:04 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Angry Democrats are demanding an apology from President Bush after he said the Senate isn't making national security a priority, while the White House is saying an apology is unlikely. The feud might affect congressional support for the president's draft resolution on Iraq.
Let's talk with Kate Snow right now, who joins us from the Capitol, with sort of the back story this morning.
What are they talking there?
Good morning, Kate.
KATE SNOW, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
It might or it might not affect the negotiations.
Remember, the White House last week sent up a draft resolution. They want the Congress to pass it as soon as possible to support President Bush and to authorize him to use force against Iraq. I talked to a senior White House official last night fairly late, who said, look, I would have told you five hours ago that we were nearing an agreement, we almost have the language worked out, maybe even by this morning, by Thursday morning.
But he said, given the hullabaloo and all the back and forth and the rhetoric yesterday and angry words from both sides of the aisle, it's unclear how that's going to affect things.
That said, though, Paula there is certainly an emphasis from both sides, Republicans and Democrats, by end of the day yesterday, the emphasis was on cooling things down, slowing down, taking a breath. You had Dick Gephardt, the Democratic leader in House, calling up Andy Card, the White House chief of staff yesterday afternoon, and saying, I think we all need to take a step back avoid politics of this, and just, you know, be united in terms of coming up with a resolution on Iraq.
So, Paula, difficult to say where things are going to go from here, but I can tell you that all the aides, all the senior people who are meeting around a table, trying to figure out the language, they are scheduled to meet again today.
And about an hour from now, a bunch of House members are scheduled to go over to the White House -- these are members who are generally supportive of the president -- they will be going to the White House to try to share their support. The president obviously trying to garner as many votes for this resolution as he can -- Paula.
ZAHN: Thanks, Kate.
Appreciate the update. The rhetoric is getting very heated in Washington, as Kate very aptly described. When President Bush said the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats is not interested in the security of the American people, an angry majority leader took him to task for the remark.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TOM DASCHLE (D-SD), MAJORITY LEADER: I don't think this president or any president ought to make the charge that Democrats don't care about national security, not when they fought in wars, not when they fought side-by-side with Republicans and independents in keeping this country free. Don't lecture us about national security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNOW: But the president is not backing down. At a fund-raiser last night, he said that when it comes to homeland security, Congress needs to put American interests ahead of special interests.
Joining us now from Capitol Hill with his take on the political feuding, Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman.
Welcome back, Senator. Good to see you.
SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: Good to be back with you, Paula. Thank you.
ZAHN: So, senator, do you think the president owes you and your party an apology?
LIEBERMAN: I thinks Senator Daschle was absolutely right in what he said yesterday. The president's rhetoric has really run away from him. You know, we have some disagreements about, elements of the homeland security, Bill, but we agree on more than 90 percent of it. Folks in the White House, Senator Graham, who is the president's leading spokesperson in the Senate, have all said we agree on 90 to 95 percent.
So we disagree on a small amount. But why take that disagreement and use it as a basis for impugning or questioning the patriotism of people who disagree with you?
I think Senator Daschle was the equivalent to me of a referee in a football game, but blows the whistle when the personal foul has been committed, and, I think it was important to do, but I also think now it is time to get back to work, let's lower our voices, let's cut out the excessive rhetoric, let's pass the homeland security bill, and let's pass a good, strong resolution supporting president on the possibility of a war in Iraq.
ZAHN: Well let me ask you this, because you no doubt have heard the chorus of voices from Bush administration who have said that the Democrats have gotten this all wrong, it is not political, this is personal, and then in fact, the president wasn't directly talking about Democrats, because he used the word "the Senate" not "democratically controlled." Some people think that was misreporting that suggested that he said "democratically controlled Senate." What do you make of that?
LIEBERMAN: Yes, it was pretty clear that he was talking about a dispute that is going on between the White House, and mostly Democrats, though some Republicans as well, about the protections that homeland security workers will be provided in the new department.
But again, I stress, that we agree on 90 to 95 percent of the ideas about how to create homeland security bill. To accuse those who have a different idea about how workers should be treated in the new department of a lack of patriotism is about as outrageous as questioning the patriotism of federal workers, who did so beautifully and performed so heroically and honorably after September 11th, like a lot of other unionized workers did.
So I think it's time to argue about the issues, but not to question each others' patriotism, and I think when he did that, the president really did go over the line. I would like to see the president and Senator Daschle sit down maybe today, and just agree that they agree on most things, and this is not about anybody's patriotism; it's about what's best for our country.
ZAHN: We are told the president will sit down later today with key members of both parties, but let's go back to Al Gore's what is considered as an assault on president's policies earlier this week. Was that responsible on your former runningmate's part?
LIEBERMAN: Oh, it was definitely responsible, even though I disagree with some of the things that Al said. He's got great credibility on national security matters. He was vice president, obviously, for eight years, making these kinds of decision. I think his voice is very important to be heard.
Nothing irresponsible about it at all. I think it enriched the debate. Even though I disagree on one of his contentions, because I feel very strongly not only that we -- that I feel strongly that Al didn't have it right when he said that a potential war against Saddam Hussein will severely damage the war against terrorism. I think our military is capable of doing both. In fact, I think a war against Saddam and a victory against Saddam will be a victory in the war against terrorism, because he is a terrorist and he supports terrorists, including Al Qaeda, some of whom have now regrouped in Iraq.
So, but other than that, Al had some very strong words of denunciation of Saddam, and even said he felt under the 1991 Persian Gulf War U.N. Resolution, if all else failed, the United States could take military action against Saddam.
ZAHN: Senator, we just have 10 seconds left. A report in "The Washington Post" that a bunch of Democrats anonymously told a reporter that they are going along with the president in efforts perhaps for military action against Iraq, but they are only doing so because they fear backlash from voters. Is that true?
LIEBERMAN: I hope not. I mean, I have supported military action against Saddam since end of the Gulf War, when we left him standing and we shouldn't have. This is a very important debate, involving the lives of the American people and a lot of other people. We all ought to take our time, say what we feel in our hearts and heads not do it for political reasons. This is national security at its most serious.
ZAHN: Senator Joseph Lieberman, always good to have you on show. Appreciate you perspective this morning.
LIEBERMAN: Thanks, Paula. Good to be with you.
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 September 26, 2002 - 09:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Angry Democrats are demanding an apology from President Bush after he said the Senate isn't making national security a priority, while the White House is saying an apology is unlikely. The feud might affect congressional support for the president's draft resolution on Iraq.
Let's talk with Kate Snow right now, who joins us from the Capitol, with sort of the back story this morning.
What are they talking there?
Good morning, Kate.
KATE SNOW, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
It might or it might not affect the negotiations.
Remember, the White House last week sent up a draft resolution. They want the Congress to pass it as soon as possible to support President Bush and to authorize him to use force against Iraq. I talked to a senior White House official last night fairly late, who said, look, I would have told you five hours ago that we were nearing an agreement, we almost have the language worked out, maybe even by this morning, by Thursday morning.
But he said, given the hullabaloo and all the back and forth and the rhetoric yesterday and angry words from both sides of the aisle, it's unclear how that's going to affect things.
That said, though, Paula there is certainly an emphasis from both sides, Republicans and Democrats, by end of the day yesterday, the emphasis was on cooling things down, slowing down, taking a breath. You had Dick Gephardt, the Democratic leader in House, calling up Andy Card, the White House chief of staff yesterday afternoon, and saying, I think we all need to take a step back avoid politics of this, and just, you know, be united in terms of coming up with a resolution on Iraq.
So, Paula, difficult to say where things are going to go from here, but I can tell you that all the aides, all the senior people who are meeting around a table, trying to figure out the language, they are scheduled to meet again today.
And about an hour from now, a bunch of House members are scheduled to go over to the White House -- these are members who are generally supportive of the president -- they will be going to the White House to try to share their support. The president obviously trying to garner as many votes for this resolution as he can -- Paula.
ZAHN: Thanks, Kate.
Appreciate the update. The rhetoric is getting very heated in Washington, as Kate very aptly described. When President Bush said the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats is not interested in the security of the American people, an angry majority leader took him to task for the remark.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TOM DASCHLE (D-SD), MAJORITY LEADER: I don't think this president or any president ought to make the charge that Democrats don't care about national security, not when they fought in wars, not when they fought side-by-side with Republicans and independents in keeping this country free. Don't lecture us about national security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNOW: But the president is not backing down. At a fund-raiser last night, he said that when it comes to homeland security, Congress needs to put American interests ahead of special interests.
Joining us now from Capitol Hill with his take on the political feuding, Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman.
Welcome back, Senator. Good to see you.
SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: Good to be back with you, Paula. Thank you.
ZAHN: So, senator, do you think the president owes you and your party an apology?
LIEBERMAN: I thinks Senator Daschle was absolutely right in what he said yesterday. The president's rhetoric has really run away from him. You know, we have some disagreements about, elements of the homeland security, Bill, but we agree on more than 90 percent of it. Folks in the White House, Senator Graham, who is the president's leading spokesperson in the Senate, have all said we agree on 90 to 95 percent.
So we disagree on a small amount. But why take that disagreement and use it as a basis for impugning or questioning the patriotism of people who disagree with you?
I think Senator Daschle was the equivalent to me of a referee in a football game, but blows the whistle when the personal foul has been committed, and, I think it was important to do, but I also think now it is time to get back to work, let's lower our voices, let's cut out the excessive rhetoric, let's pass the homeland security bill, and let's pass a good, strong resolution supporting president on the possibility of a war in Iraq.
ZAHN: Well let me ask you this, because you no doubt have heard the chorus of voices from Bush administration who have said that the Democrats have gotten this all wrong, it is not political, this is personal, and then in fact, the president wasn't directly talking about Democrats, because he used the word "the Senate" not "democratically controlled." Some people think that was misreporting that suggested that he said "democratically controlled Senate." What do you make of that?
LIEBERMAN: Yes, it was pretty clear that he was talking about a dispute that is going on between the White House, and mostly Democrats, though some Republicans as well, about the protections that homeland security workers will be provided in the new department.
But again, I stress, that we agree on 90 to 95 percent of the ideas about how to create homeland security bill. To accuse those who have a different idea about how workers should be treated in the new department of a lack of patriotism is about as outrageous as questioning the patriotism of federal workers, who did so beautifully and performed so heroically and honorably after September 11th, like a lot of other unionized workers did.
So I think it's time to argue about the issues, but not to question each others' patriotism, and I think when he did that, the president really did go over the line. I would like to see the president and Senator Daschle sit down maybe today, and just agree that they agree on most things, and this is not about anybody's patriotism; it's about what's best for our country.
ZAHN: We are told the president will sit down later today with key members of both parties, but let's go back to Al Gore's what is considered as an assault on president's policies earlier this week. Was that responsible on your former runningmate's part?
LIEBERMAN: Oh, it was definitely responsible, even though I disagree with some of the things that Al said. He's got great credibility on national security matters. He was vice president, obviously, for eight years, making these kinds of decision. I think his voice is very important to be heard.
Nothing irresponsible about it at all. I think it enriched the debate. Even though I disagree on one of his contentions, because I feel very strongly not only that we -- that I feel strongly that Al didn't have it right when he said that a potential war against Saddam Hussein will severely damage the war against terrorism. I think our military is capable of doing both. In fact, I think a war against Saddam and a victory against Saddam will be a victory in the war against terrorism, because he is a terrorist and he supports terrorists, including Al Qaeda, some of whom have now regrouped in Iraq.
So, but other than that, Al had some very strong words of denunciation of Saddam, and even said he felt under the 1991 Persian Gulf War U.N. Resolution, if all else failed, the United States could take military action against Saddam.
ZAHN: Senator, we just have 10 seconds left. A report in "The Washington Post" that a bunch of Democrats anonymously told a reporter that they are going along with the president in efforts perhaps for military action against Iraq, but they are only doing so because they fear backlash from voters. Is that true?
LIEBERMAN: I hope not. I mean, I have supported military action against Saddam since end of the Gulf War, when we left him standing and we shouldn't have. This is a very important debate, involving the lives of the American people and a lot of other people. We all ought to take our time, say what we feel in our hearts and heads not do it for political reasons. This is national security at its most serious.
ZAHN: Senator Joseph Lieberman, always good to have you on show. Appreciate you perspective this morning.
LIEBERMAN: Thanks, Paula. Good to be with you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
