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American Morning
Democrats Debate
Aired October 10, 2003 - 07:19 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: In a debate shown exclusively last night on CNN, the Democrats vying for the White House sparred once again. And while the man they are seeking to unseat is President Bush, the one who came under fire was candidate Wesley Clark.
Dan Lothian is live for us in Phoenix, Arizona, this morning.
Hey, Dan. Good morning.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Well, yes, the retired general did come under fire last night, a different kind of fire, one of words. Wesley Clark is leading in the polls, and he's the one the other candidates went after.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOTHIAN (voice-over): As supporters of the Democratic presidential candidates and protesters clamored for a voice on the sidewalk, the clear voice on the platform shouted at President George Bush and his policy on Iraq.
REP. DENNIS KUCINICH (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Our involvement in Iraq was based on lies.
LOTHIAN: Criticism shifted to retired General Wesley Clark, who wasn't given a pass in this debate about his shifting position on the war in Iraq.
SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He recommended and would have supported the resolution. After the war, he wrote a piece in the "Times" of London praising President Bush and Tony Blair for their resolve. When he became a candidate, he said he probably would have voted for the resolution.
WESLEY CLARK (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Let me tell you what my story is. I always supported taking the problem of Saddam Hussein to the United Nations and bringing international resolve to bear.
LOTHIAN: Then, Clark was questioned about his credentials as a Democrat and his record of supporting Republicans. The retired general tried to set the record straight.
CLARK: When I did go into a Republican fund-raiser because I was nonpartisan at that point.
LOTHIAN: Clark, on the defensive, was quickly reminded where he was.
LIEBERMAN: Wes Clark, welcome to the Democratic presidential campaign.
LOTHIAN: The candidates briefly touched on health care, tax cuts and social security, before the debate turned into a town hall meeting, and the audience got a chance to talk.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
Clark says that the attacks were not unexpected. He was fully aware that the other candidates would be going after him. When asked about his performance, he says "I have to talk to my guys" -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, CNN's Dan Lothian for us this morning. Dan, thanks for that.
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 10, 2003 - 07:19 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: In a debate shown exclusively last night on CNN, the Democrats vying for the White House sparred once again. And while the man they are seeking to unseat is President Bush, the one who came under fire was candidate Wesley Clark.
Dan Lothian is live for us in Phoenix, Arizona, this morning.
Hey, Dan. Good morning.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Well, yes, the retired general did come under fire last night, a different kind of fire, one of words. Wesley Clark is leading in the polls, and he's the one the other candidates went after.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOTHIAN (voice-over): As supporters of the Democratic presidential candidates and protesters clamored for a voice on the sidewalk, the clear voice on the platform shouted at President George Bush and his policy on Iraq.
REP. DENNIS KUCINICH (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Our involvement in Iraq was based on lies.
LOTHIAN: Criticism shifted to retired General Wesley Clark, who wasn't given a pass in this debate about his shifting position on the war in Iraq.
SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He recommended and would have supported the resolution. After the war, he wrote a piece in the "Times" of London praising President Bush and Tony Blair for their resolve. When he became a candidate, he said he probably would have voted for the resolution.
WESLEY CLARK (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Let me tell you what my story is. I always supported taking the problem of Saddam Hussein to the United Nations and bringing international resolve to bear.
LOTHIAN: Then, Clark was questioned about his credentials as a Democrat and his record of supporting Republicans. The retired general tried to set the record straight.
CLARK: When I did go into a Republican fund-raiser because I was nonpartisan at that point.
LOTHIAN: Clark, on the defensive, was quickly reminded where he was.
LIEBERMAN: Wes Clark, welcome to the Democratic presidential campaign.
LOTHIAN: The candidates briefly touched on health care, tax cuts and social security, before the debate turned into a town hall meeting, and the audience got a chance to talk.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
Clark says that the attacks were not unexpected. He was fully aware that the other candidates would be going after him. When asked about his performance, he says "I have to talk to my guys" -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, CNN's Dan Lothian for us this morning. Dan, thanks for that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
