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American Morning

Mixed Reaction from Lawmakers to Bush Speech

Aired October 08, 2002 - 07:08   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: Iraq, and let's go back to last night -- one speech and callous reactions today.
Arizona Senator John McCain already saying that President Bush last night was, indeed, convincing at laying out the case against Saddam Hussein; others disagreeing, including Democratic Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia saying there is nothing new in this speech last evening. The White House had said yesterday there would be nothing new.

This morning, though, reaction from the Front Lawn, and here is John King on that.

John -- good morning.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.

The president spoke for 29 minutes. He was very calm throughout the speech, you might say stern, methodically laying out his case for a confrontation and a possible military showdown with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Mr. Bush wanted to use this speech to tee-up, if you will, the congressional vote this week on the resolution authorizing Mr. Bush to use force against Iraq. And Mr. Bush wanted to go through all of the questions being asked by critics, by skeptics, and the president said, many legitimate questions being raised by the American people about why Iraq, why now, would it distract from the war on terrorism?

Mr. Bush tried to deal with those questions by raising a question of his own.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Some ask how urgent this danger is to America and the world. The danger is already significant, and it only grows worse with time. If we know Saddam Hussein has dangerous weapons today, and we do, does it make any sense for the world to wait to confront him as he grows even stronger and develops even more dangerous weapons?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Back to the White House from Cincinnati late last night, Mr. Bush hits the road today, more political fund-raising in Tennessee. Look for him, though, to repeat his message of last night. White House aides say they are satisfied with the president's speech. They believe he did what he set out to do: Help sway public opinion, help bolster his case just before that congressional vote. Mr. Bush hoping for a big, lopsided bipartisan majority out of the Congress as a springboard for the more difficult United Nations Security Council debate that lies ahead.

As you noted at the top, Bill, members of Congress are already reacting. Those who supported the president's position tend to say they liked the speech. Those who didn't, like Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, said he heard nothing new in this speech, says Congress is being bullied by the White House.

The administration says what matters most is the reaction of the American people. They believe here this morning the president made his case last night.

HEMMER: Thank you, John -- John King on the Front Lawn, and certainly a whole more throughout the morning on this topic.

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 October 8, 2002 - 07:08   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Iraq, and let's go back to last night -- one speech and callous reactions today.
Arizona Senator John McCain already saying that President Bush last night was, indeed, convincing at laying out the case against Saddam Hussein; others disagreeing, including Democratic Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia saying there is nothing new in this speech last evening. The White House had said yesterday there would be nothing new.

This morning, though, reaction from the Front Lawn, and here is John King on that.

John -- good morning.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.

The president spoke for 29 minutes. He was very calm throughout the speech, you might say stern, methodically laying out his case for a confrontation and a possible military showdown with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Mr. Bush wanted to use this speech to tee-up, if you will, the congressional vote this week on the resolution authorizing Mr. Bush to use force against Iraq. And Mr. Bush wanted to go through all of the questions being asked by critics, by skeptics, and the president said, many legitimate questions being raised by the American people about why Iraq, why now, would it distract from the war on terrorism?

Mr. Bush tried to deal with those questions by raising a question of his own.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Some ask how urgent this danger is to America and the world. The danger is already significant, and it only grows worse with time. If we know Saddam Hussein has dangerous weapons today, and we do, does it make any sense for the world to wait to confront him as he grows even stronger and develops even more dangerous weapons?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Back to the White House from Cincinnati late last night, Mr. Bush hits the road today, more political fund-raising in Tennessee. Look for him, though, to repeat his message of last night. White House aides say they are satisfied with the president's speech. They believe he did what he set out to do: Help sway public opinion, help bolster his case just before that congressional vote. Mr. Bush hoping for a big, lopsided bipartisan majority out of the Congress as a springboard for the more difficult United Nations Security Council debate that lies ahead.

As you noted at the top, Bill, members of Congress are already reacting. Those who supported the president's position tend to say they liked the speech. Those who didn't, like Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, said he heard nothing new in this speech, says Congress is being bullied by the White House.

The administration says what matters most is the reaction of the American people. They believe here this morning the president made his case last night.

HEMMER: Thank you, John -- John King on the Front Lawn, and certainly a whole more throughout the morning on this topic.

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