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American Morning
President Bush Addresses U.N.: Approval Ratings
Aired September 23, 2003 - 07:04 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go to the president's crucial speech this morning at the U.N. Mr. Bush is helping to -- rather, seeking help to stabilize Iraq at a time when his job approval rating is at its lowest point since taking office.
Dana Bash is live for us at the White House with the latest on that.
Dana -- good morning.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
And the president's top aides say he is not going to apologize to the U.N. for going to war with Iraq without their final approval. Instead, he will say that the war was right and that the world is a better place without Saddam Hussein in control there.
But the president will also try to extend an olive branch of sorts, saying members should put aside their differences and come together in order to stabilize Iraq, because it is in their best interest to do so.
But senior officials say equally important will be the private meetings that President Bush has, especially the one with French President Jacques Chirac. He, many believe, holds the key to a new U.N. resolution. He, of course, is saying that power should be transferred to Iraqis very quickly, more quickly than the White House wants. The White House says the French proposal is unrealistic and is a recipe for disaster -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Well, Dana, a quick question for you. We started by talking about the poll numbers. And as I mentioned, the poll numbers for the president down to 50 percent. Back in April: 71 percent. So, how concerned is the administration about these plunging -- I think it's fair to say -- numbers?
BASH: Well, it's the Republicans I talked to, close to but outside of the administration, that are most concerned about this, at least the most candid about their concern, Soledad. But in terms of Bush's political advisers, they have been trying to downplay expectations really for months now, saying that the president was incredibly high, but that all incumbent presidents since President Nixon have been low at some point in their first term and have come back to win re-election. They say that is what is happening here.
But there is no doubt there is a little bit of skittishness about these numbers, and that is why this speech today at the U.N. is important not only for the world stage, but also domestically politically -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Dana Bash for us at the White House this morning. Dana, thanks for that update.
BASH: Thank 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 23, 2003 - 07:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go to the president's crucial speech this morning at the U.N. Mr. Bush is helping to -- rather, seeking help to stabilize Iraq at a time when his job approval rating is at its lowest point since taking office.
Dana Bash is live for us at the White House with the latest on that.
Dana -- good morning.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
And the president's top aides say he is not going to apologize to the U.N. for going to war with Iraq without their final approval. Instead, he will say that the war was right and that the world is a better place without Saddam Hussein in control there.
But the president will also try to extend an olive branch of sorts, saying members should put aside their differences and come together in order to stabilize Iraq, because it is in their best interest to do so.
But senior officials say equally important will be the private meetings that President Bush has, especially the one with French President Jacques Chirac. He, many believe, holds the key to a new U.N. resolution. He, of course, is saying that power should be transferred to Iraqis very quickly, more quickly than the White House wants. The White House says the French proposal is unrealistic and is a recipe for disaster -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Well, Dana, a quick question for you. We started by talking about the poll numbers. And as I mentioned, the poll numbers for the president down to 50 percent. Back in April: 71 percent. So, how concerned is the administration about these plunging -- I think it's fair to say -- numbers?
BASH: Well, it's the Republicans I talked to, close to but outside of the administration, that are most concerned about this, at least the most candid about their concern, Soledad. But in terms of Bush's political advisers, they have been trying to downplay expectations really for months now, saying that the president was incredibly high, but that all incumbent presidents since President Nixon have been low at some point in their first term and have come back to win re-election. They say that is what is happening here.
But there is no doubt there is a little bit of skittishness about these numbers, and that is why this speech today at the U.N. is important not only for the world stage, but also domestically politically -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Dana Bash for us at the White House this morning. Dana, thanks for that update.
BASH: Thank 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.
