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American Morning
What Americans Can Expect to Hear in State of the Union Address
Aired January 20, 2004 - 08:33 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: We want to get to the State of the Union address later tonight in D.C. The president will give the final address of this current term. The president has been busy practicing, fine-tuning that speech, which really began, we're told, the planning, back in mid-November.
What can we expect to hear later tonight?
At the White House, here's Dana Bash -- Dana, good morning there.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
And the president gets nearly an hour of uninterrupted TV time tonight. It's one of those times in an election year it's good to be the incumbent. And the speech, we are told, will really be a blueprint for Mr. Bush's campaign themes in the year to come.
And White House aides say their goal tonight is to set a tone, a lofty tone, if you will, that will try to set himself apart from the Democrats on the campaign trail.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: This is an opportunity for the president to address the American people about the state of our union. We're a confident, optimistic country because we have achieved quite a bit in the last three years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, last year the thrust of the president's State of the Union was the case for war in Iraq. Tonight, it will be very much a defense of that war, at least the beginning of the speech. And CNN has learned that the current Iraqi Governing Council president, Adnan Pachachi, will be in the gallery with the president as an example, he will say, of the Iraq that is being transformed into a democracy.
Now, that will be the national security part. Of course, major discussion of domestic issues. The biggie, of course, is the economy. Mr. Bush is expected to say that it is recovering, but there are still problems, like on the job front. He will come up with a modest job proposal package. And, also, there will be a talk about health care, really what strategists on both sides of the aisle say is a sleeper issue this election year. He will talk about the fact that there are high costs and come up with some, again, modest proposals, we are told, on how to address the high costs, especially for the uninsured -- Bill.
HEMMER: Dana, we heard from Dan Bartlett just in your report there and also last hour.
What's the reaction to what happened in Iowa last night?
Are they saying much yet?
BASH: Well, certainly, as you can imagine, they are trying not to say very much publicly. Privately, we are told, actually, that yesterday when the president was practicing, there was some small talk about the race in Iowa. What they are saying, the aides that I've talked to, the political aides, is that this is something that is going to go on for a while now, clearly. They're watching this very closely. This is something that could be bloodier and more costly than anybody had thought just a few weeks ago. And that, in the short-term, at least, could only help the president.
HEMMER: Dana, thanks.
Of course, complete coverage later tonight here on CNN. Our coverage starts at 8:00 Eastern time, 5:00 on the West Coast. And then tomorrow join us here.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Address>
Aired January 20, 2004 - 08:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get to the State of the Union address later tonight in D.C. The president will give the final address of this current term. The president has been busy practicing, fine-tuning that speech, which really began, we're told, the planning, back in mid-November.
What can we expect to hear later tonight?
At the White House, here's Dana Bash -- Dana, good morning there.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
And the president gets nearly an hour of uninterrupted TV time tonight. It's one of those times in an election year it's good to be the incumbent. And the speech, we are told, will really be a blueprint for Mr. Bush's campaign themes in the year to come.
And White House aides say their goal tonight is to set a tone, a lofty tone, if you will, that will try to set himself apart from the Democrats on the campaign trail.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: This is an opportunity for the president to address the American people about the state of our union. We're a confident, optimistic country because we have achieved quite a bit in the last three years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, last year the thrust of the president's State of the Union was the case for war in Iraq. Tonight, it will be very much a defense of that war, at least the beginning of the speech. And CNN has learned that the current Iraqi Governing Council president, Adnan Pachachi, will be in the gallery with the president as an example, he will say, of the Iraq that is being transformed into a democracy.
Now, that will be the national security part. Of course, major discussion of domestic issues. The biggie, of course, is the economy. Mr. Bush is expected to say that it is recovering, but there are still problems, like on the job front. He will come up with a modest job proposal package. And, also, there will be a talk about health care, really what strategists on both sides of the aisle say is a sleeper issue this election year. He will talk about the fact that there are high costs and come up with some, again, modest proposals, we are told, on how to address the high costs, especially for the uninsured -- Bill.
HEMMER: Dana, we heard from Dan Bartlett just in your report there and also last hour.
What's the reaction to what happened in Iowa last night?
Are they saying much yet?
BASH: Well, certainly, as you can imagine, they are trying not to say very much publicly. Privately, we are told, actually, that yesterday when the president was practicing, there was some small talk about the race in Iowa. What they are saying, the aides that I've talked to, the political aides, is that this is something that is going to go on for a while now, clearly. They're watching this very closely. This is something that could be bloodier and more costly than anybody had thought just a few weeks ago. And that, in the short-term, at least, could only help the president.
HEMMER: Dana, thanks.
Of course, complete coverage later tonight here on CNN. Our coverage starts at 8:00 Eastern time, 5:00 on the West Coast. And then tomorrow join us here.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Address>
