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The Situation Room
President Bush Defends Rumsfeld Against Critics; Gas Pump Politics; NAACP Puts Together Early-Voting Bus Trips To New Orleans;
Aired April 18, 2006 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: To our viewers, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM, where new pictures and information are arriving all the time. Standing by, CNN reporters across the United States and around the world to bring you today's top stories.
Happening now, Donald Rumsfeld goes face to face with a contingent of retired generals. Will it help him quiet the calls for his resignation? It's 4:00 p.m. here in Washington. We'll talk live with a general whose been inside in that meeting.
Also this hour, strong words from the president about Donald Rumsfeld and new changes on the Bush team. We'll have the latest word on the comings and goings inside the Bush administration.
And the new surge in gas prices. Politicians are getting all pumped up again. Will this be a driving issue for voters in this year's midterm election?
I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
Donald Rumsfeld's latest self-defense mission should be wrapping up right now. He's been meeting with retired generals turned military analysts, including CNN's own General Don Shepperd. General Shepperd will report back to us on the meeting shortly. We're stand by for that.
Also today, Rumsfeld once again rejects calls for his resignation. And the president, President Bush, publicly and pointedly insisting his defense secretary isn't going anywhere.
Also today, Mr. Bush taps trade representative Rob Portman to move up to White House budget director. The move adds more fuel to the speculation about a White House shake-up.
Our White House correspondents Ed Henry and Suzanne Malveaux are standing by, but let's go to the Pentagon first. Our senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre has the latest from there -- Jamie.
JAMIE MCINTYRE, SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, as you said, the meeting with military analysts who appear on television is going on right now. Our Don Shepperd inside. He'll tell us what transpired there.
Earlier this afternoon, Rumsfeld, armed with that fresh endorsement from his boss, President Bush, confidently engaged the Pentagon press corps. When asked the lead-off question, whether he was dismissive and contemptuous of military advice as some of his critics say, he brushed that aside and launched into a 10-minute defense of his accomplishment as the defense secretary.
As you said, he made it clear that he is not going to be offering his resignation as he did two years ago in the wake of the Abu Ghraib scandal. Asked why then and not now, he said simply, call it idiosyncratic. And again, when asked about the criticism that he didn't take to heart military advice, he again brushed it aside.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: General Secretary...
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Go ahead.
QUESTION: How much of this do you think is simply about your management style? Excuse me. In this "Wall Street Journal" opinion piece that was written yesterday by a number of retired generals, it was said that some feel that you have been unfair, arrogant and autocratic. And this was from your supporters who are supporting you in this opinion piece. How much do you think is this about your management style and...
RUMSFELD: No idea.
QUESTION: What -- to the charge -- first of all, to the charge that you're arrogant and autocratic...
RUMSFELD: I said I have no idea.
QUESTION: Are you arrogant and autocratic?
RUMSFELD: Keep going.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCINTYRE: And Wolf, I do know the secretary of defense. I know that he can be very decisive and he can sometimes be dismissive. But he also is very determined not to be driven out of office by generals who he sees as resistant to change.
And, by the way, he got also a vote of confidence from the general standing right next to him. The Joint Chiefs chairman, General Peter Pace, jumped in to say that Rumsfeld gives the senior military leadership every opportunity to put issues on the table and that eventually somebody, though, has to make a decision and that somebody is Donald Rumsfeld.
BLITZER: Jamie, thank you very much. We're going to stand by to hear from General Shepperd once he emerges from that meeting. In the meantime, let's go over to the White House.
Our correspondent Ed Henry had an opportunity to ask the commander in chief a question about Rumsfeld earlier today, and you got quite a response, Ed. Update our viewers. ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf. An even more vigorous defense than we saw from the president on Friday, when he interrupted his Easter vacation in Camp David in order to offer his full public support for Rumsfeld.
Today, the president got so riled up he even sort of gave himself a new nickname, "The Decider," insisting he listens to critics, but ultimately it is he who gets to decide who stays or goes. This sharp response was sparked when I asked the president why he seemed to break his own rule against speculation by responding to the rumors about Rumsfeld. Take a listen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: Mr. President, you've made it a practice of not commenting on potential personnel moves.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Of course I did.
HENRY: ... calling it speculation won't...
BUSH: You can understand why. Because we got people's reputations at stake. And on Friday, I stood up and said I don't appreciate the speculation about Don Rumsfeld. He's doing a fine job. I strongly support him.
HENRY: What would you say to critics who believe that you're ignoring the advice of retired generals, military commanders, who say there needs to be a change?
BUSH: I say I listen to all voices, but mine is the final decision. And Don Rumsfeld is doing a fine job. He's not only transforming the military, he's fighting a war on terror. He's helping us fight a war on terror. I have strong confidence in Don Rumsfeld.
I hear the voices and I read the front page and I know the speculation. But I'm the decider, and I decide what's best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the secretary of defense.
I want to thank you all very much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: Now, I later asked White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan why the president has not offered the same full thorough endorsement of Treasury Secretary John, who also has his reputation on the line amid speculation he may be fired. The White House spokesman said the president quote, "deep appreciation for Snow." But obviously, we will have to wait and see whether the president decides to keep Snow -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Ed Henry, good work. Thanks very much.
And to our viewers, we're going to have a lot more on the calls coming up for Rumsfeld's resignation, the political ramifications for the president. Donna Brazile, Bill Bennett, they'll square off here in our CNN SITUATION ROOM "Strategy Session." And we'll talk with retired major general and CNN military analyst Don Shepperd as soon as he gets out of that meeting, still underway with the secretary of defense, over at the Pentagon.
In addition to the buzz about Rumsfeld, President Bush says he knows Washington is swirling with speculation about personnel changes at the White House. Today Mr. Bush contributed to what he calls the game of musical chairs by announcing some job promotions.
Let's bring our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the new chief of staff, of course, Josh Bolten, made it very clear that they are filling the societies, those vacant slots, with people who not only have strong ties to the administration, but also to those on the Hill. It is a very clear indication they're trying to repair those damaged relations, while some Republicans in Congress at the same time, of course, push forward very aggressively President Bush's agenda.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice-over): New Chief of Staff Josh Bolten is wasting no time in filling White House positions, starting with his old job as budget chief.
BUSH: The job of OMB director is a really important post, and Rob Portman is the right man to take it on.
MALVEAUX: So now Portman has Bolten's old job, and his deputy, Susan Schwab, moves into his as U.S. trade representative. Confusing?
BUSH: It's the game of musical chairs, I guess you'd say, that people love to follow.
MALVEAUX: And many in Washington are doing just that. On Monday, his first full day, Bolten announced he would be making personnel changes to refresh and reenergize the president's team. As CNN first reported two weeks ago, some Republican strategists and Bush administration officials say Bolten is focusing on legislative affairs and White House communications, specifically the position of White House press secretary.
CNN has learned from multiple Republican sources that Bolten reached out to Fox News anchor and conservative radio talk show host Tony Snow several weeks ago at the White House. Snow worked as a speech writer for the president's father, and had no comment about the story.
Republican sources familiar with Bolten's conversations about staff changes tell CNN those of interest inside the Bush administration include former Treasury spokesman Rob Nichols and former Pentagon spokeswoman and current CNN contributor Torie Clarke. Several weeks ago in THE SITUATION ROOM, Clarke dismissed the suggestion.
BLITZER: They would like you to come back if you'd be interested.
TORIE CLARKE, FMR. PENTAGON SPOKESWOMAN: You know, what did Sherman say? If nominated, won't run; if elected, will not serve. Not happening.
MALVEAUX: When asked over the past several days whether he plans to leave, McClellan said, smiling...
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Look, I never speculate about personal matters.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: And today President Bush issued a stern warning, saying whatever the outreach or discussions that may be taking place regarding personnel matters, he is the one, ultimately, Wolf, that makes the call -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Suzanne, thanks very much. Suzanne Malveaux at the White House.
There's been a workplace shooting in St. Louis, Missouri. Let's bring in our Zain Verjee from the CNN Center. She's got details. What's going on, Zain?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: In St. Louis, Missouri, Wolf, we're hearing there has been a workplace shooting. Three people have been confirmed dead. We don't know who the victims are. It's unclear what the status of the shooter is. We are unable to independently confirm it, but local affiliates are reporting that it's actually a murder- suicide. It's also unclear to us at this stage as to why the shooter did this.
You're looking at live pictures of the scene right now, where the St. Louis Fire Department is handling the situation now. This I believe is Bartner (ph) Street. It's in the north part of town, in St. Louis.
We're going to bring you more details when we get them, but this is what we've heard as of right now. A workplace shooting in the north part of town in St. Louis, Missouri. It appears, according to affiliates, that it's a murder-suicide.
Turning to other news now, in Arizona 100 firefighters are battling a fire that started on an oil tanker truck. It happened at a salvage yard in Phoenix. Flames shot dozens of feet into the air, sending up dark plumes of smoke as you see here, seen throughout the surrounding area. No injuries are reported.
They have been arrested and accused of rape, but their defense lawyers saying that police have got the wrong men. Today in North Carolina, two members of Duke University's lacrosse team were arrested and charged in connection with the alleged rape of an African-American exotic dancer.
Officials say 20-year-old Reade Seligmann and 19-year-old Collin Finnerty were both charged with first degree sexual offense, first degree forcible rape, and first degree kidnapping. Authorities say they are still trying to determine the identity of a third suspect.
Meanwhile, sources are telling CNN that the defense will present evidence that neither of the men were even at the scene at the time of the alleged rape.
The president of Iran says if threatened, his country will, quote, "cut off the hand of any aggressor." President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad maintains that Iran has the right to develop nuclear technology under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, and he says that Iran's military will defend the nation's borders.
His comments come as a deadline approaches. The United Nations Security Council has told Iran to stop uranium enrichment by the 28th of April. Now today President Bush said that his administration is focused on resolving the crisis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: All options are on the table. We want to solve this issue diplomatically, and we're working hard to do so. The best way to do so is for there to be a united effort with countries who recognize the danger of Iran having a nuclear weapon.
And that's why we're working very closely with countries like France and Germany and Great Britain. I intend, of course, to bring the subject up of Iranian ambitions to have a nuclear weapon with Hu Jintao this Thursday. We'll continue to work diplomatically to get this problem solved.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VERJEE: Today diplomats from the five permanent U.N. Security Council members and Germany met in Moscow to discuss the nuclear crisis. At the talks, Russia repeated its opposition to any sanctions against Iran.
And the president of China has arrived in Seattle today for a four-day stay in the U.S. While in Seattle, President Hu Jintao is to tour the production plant of the aircraft manufacturer Boeing. The Chinese president will also have dinner with Microsoft chairman, Bill Gates. On Thursday, President Hu will attend a summit with President Bush in Washington -- Wolf.
BLITZER: And we'll have extensive coverage of the Chinese leader's visit to the United States. Zain, thank you very much for that.
Let's go up to New York. Jack Cafferty is standing by with "The Cafferty File" -- Jack.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, while Congress cannot seem to agree on immigration reform, one state has taken matters into its own hands. Georgia's governor, a fellow named Sonny Purdue, has signed a sweeping immigration bill for the state of Georgia, gives the state some of the toughest measures against illegal aliens in the country.
Adults seeking state-administered benefits must prove they are here legally. It punishes employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens, and it requires police to check the immigration status of anyone they arrest.
In another state's news on the same subject, Arizona's governor vetoed a bill that would have criminalized the presence of illegal aliens.
So while our dysfunctional, do-nothing Congress continues its spring break -- and we do hope they are having a good time -- here's the question: Should individual states pass their own immigration laws? E-mail your thoughts to caffertyfile@CNN.com, or go to CNN.com/caffertyfile.
BLITZER: Good question, Jack. We'll see what our viewers think. Thanks very much.
Coming up, Donald Rumsfeld said he hasn't considered quitting his job as defense secretary in the wake of current criticism. We'll speak live with our own Don Shepperd who, along with other retired generals, is meeting with Rumsfeld.
Also, gas price politics -- will the pain at the pump change votes this November? Bill Schneider investigating.
And later, we'll take a ride on a midnight bus to New Orleans. Our Candy Crowley joins us with a look at the long, hard road some people face in order to vote on New Orleans' future.
Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: And this is just coming in to CNN right now. The Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has just wrapped up his meeting with retired U.S. generals who now serve as military analysts for the news media. Our own military analyst, retired U.S. Air Force Major General Don Shepperd, is fresh out of the meeting. He's joining us now live from the Pentagon.
General Shepperd, thanks very much. How did it go? Tell our viewers how the defense secretary specifically responded to all these suggestions from other retired military generals that he stepped down?
MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD, U.S. AIR FORCE (RET.): Yes, very little, Wolf. Everybody expected the headlines out of this to be that the secretary says the following things and the focus of the meeting was very little on that. It came up from time to time, mainly from our own questions, but basically the focus was on how the war in Iraq is going, how it would have been different in the past if, and that type of thing. It was not about the retired generals' controversy although the secretary is clearly distracted by and it worried about and it concerned about it. And he listened to a lot of things from the group.
BLITZER: Well, did anyone -- any of the retired generals and admirals who were there, did any of them step up and offer criticism of the secretary of defense?
SHEPPERD: No, it wasn't criticism of the secretary of defense. We basically offered our ideas about the fact of, look, the message is not getting out. If you say that we're doing well in the war, what is the message for the American people? What is the next thing the American people are going to see in the way of an event they can see some progress?
And the answer was unanimous from both the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and also the secretary. It's the formation of the Iraqi government. That's the next important event and from there, the continuing training of the Iraqi forces. That's the message, Wolf.
BLITZER: When you say that it was clear these calls from these retired generals for him to step down, including the commander of -- the former commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, former commander of the First Infantry Division, both of whom served in Iraq, it's weighing heavily on him, what does that mean? How could you tell?
SHEPPERD: Look, he has got to be concerned about this. His words -- evidence concern, no question about that. But, basically, General Pace kind of picked up the ball on this and said, look, I don't know where these guys are coming from. We had regular sessions.
The big generals, the combatant commanders, General Franks and the others, two chiefs of staff of the Air Force, two commandants of the Marine Corps, two chiefs of staff of the Army, two chairmen of the Joint Chiefs -- all of these people made their inputs, voiced their concerns, we talked it out.
Then we all agreed on General Franks plan, that it was a good one. We all had a hand in this. The fact that people say they weren't consulted was simply not true. They may not have had their own ideas accepted but they definitely were consulted and a lot of people had a voice on this.
BLITZER: How many general did he invite to this session today?
SHEPPERD: They weren't all generals by any means. It's the normal -- the usual suspects you see on TV as analysts and read in the print media, as well, and hear on radio. There were 15 of us there. I think probably a group of 30 or 40 was invited. Just about the same size group we usually had. It's been as low as 15 and as high as 30.
BLITZER: Was there any moment that really was a poignant or dramatic moment that stands out in your mind, General Shepherd? A moment of some tension or some humor, if you will? SHEPPERD: Well, you know the secretary was really in a good mood, so was the chairman. These people are not troubled people. They are concerned people and they are concerned about what is going on. But our message to them as analysts was, look, you have got to get the importance of this war out to the American people.
The importance message is that this is a forward strategy. It's better to fight the war in Iraq than it is the war on American soil. And further, the message needs to be imagine an Iraq, imagine Iraq under the control of Zarqawi with another conveyor belt combined for tourists, combined with oil, water and land and resources, imagine the effect of that. That's a message that has to get out to the American people because the American people do not feel they are at war.
Both General Pace and also Secretary Rumsfeld basically said we have got to improve our message and improve our communication. We want to do that. This is a tough war. It's going to be a long war in many places. It's not going to be something that's going to come out with a bow in the next year or two years.
BLITZER: One final question, did you get any indication from the secretary of defense or the chairman of the joint chiefs that the Iraqis are about to form a new government or that they might soon be able to protect themselves, to defend themselves?
SHEPPERD: Basically they said we are extremely hopeful. We see great indications. They understand the importance of it but they did not give a time line or predict. They also are very, very -- they are happy with the progress of the Iraqi security forces, but they made this point. It's a very important point.
Those Iraqi security forces, for them to be loyal to Iraq, the service of Iraq, have to be loyal to an elected government that is competent. That's the most difficult challenge in Iraq. It's not the insurgency. It's the formation and election and performance of an Iraqi government that gains the confidence of the people just like in this country.
BLITZER: General Shepperd, thanks for joining us. General Shepperd joining us from the Pentagon. He's going to be coming back here to THE SITUATION ROOM in the next hour. He's going to be joining a round table of retired generals, our other CNN military analysts, they are going to join General Shepperd. We'll have an important serious discussion on what is going on with the defense secretary right now.
Also coming up next, Donna Brazile and Bill Bennett will join us in today's "Strategy Session."
Plus $3 a gallon at the pumps. Will that be a political story this summer. Bill Schneider taking a closer look.
Later, at this early point in the race for the White House, money talks. So we'll take a closer look at which presidential contenders are swimming in green. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: A new move today by Democrats to further play up the criticism of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. The Senate's number two Democrat, the minority whip Dick Durbin, is proposing a symbolic vote next week to test Senate support for Rumsfeld.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL), MINORITY WHIP: I can tell you a number of us are talking about how we want to do this and when. I think we need to have a vote of confidence on Secretary Rumsfeld. Let the Senate go on record.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: The calls for Rumsfeld's resignation in our "Strategy Session" today. Has the defense secretary done enough to answer the critics? Will there be any change in policy? Joining us now, our CNN political analyst Democratic strategist Donna Brazile and Bill Bennett the host of the radio show "Morning in America."
What do you think, Donna, of the call from Dick Durbin to have a vote of confidence, a symbolic vote, among the 100 members of the U.S. Senate as far as Don Rumsfeld is concerned.?
DONNA BRAZILE, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: If the opportunity presents itself they should do that. In the past, Senator Hagel, Senator McCain, Senator Graham, Senator Lott have expressed no confidence in Mr. Rumsfeld. Let's see how they feel right now six retired generals have come out very forcibly against Mr. Rumsfeld. Let's see what happens.
BLITZER: Those were all Republicans. I don't know if you noticed that. What do you think of Durbin's idea?
BILL BENNETT, HOST, "MORNING IN AMERICA": The Senate has already spoken, it's called confirmation. He was confirmed by the Senate. He now serves at the pleasure of the president. The president has been as clear as a bell on this, Rumsfeld is staying. He's put his arm around him, said he's my secretary of defense and he stays. Democrats can do this but it's not going anywhere.
BLITZER: Here's what the president did say in the Rose Garden earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: I have strong confidence in Don Rumsfeld. I hear the voices and I read the front page and I know the speculation. But I'm the decider and I decide what is best and what is best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the secretary of defense.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: You would think when the president make a strong statement like that, he issued a written statement on Friday from Camp David. The story would go away because in the end this is an audience of one as far as the future of Don Rumsfeld is concerned. But the story is not going away.
BRAZILE: Mr. Rumsfeld has a long list of mistakes. One of the reasons why you see the story continuing is that people are saying, look, if the president is unwilling to make a personnel change, perhaps the president will make a policy change. If he's unwilling to make both a personnel and a policy change, then it's fair game to continue to criticize the administration.
They are losing public support for the war in Iraq. It's time the president just shore up his base by saying, look, we made some mistakes. I'm bringing Secretary Rumsfeld in and these generals and we're going to try to clear it up and change course.
BLITZER: Here's what Senator Hagel said in his hometown, Lincoln Journal Star newspaper in Nebraska. And remember he's a Republican. This is what he said. He's thinking of running for president, too. "The concern I've had is that at a very dangerous time the secretary of defense does not command the respect and confidence of our men and women in uniform. There is a real question about his capacity to lead at this critical time."
Hagel, as you know, Bill, is also a Vietnam war veteran. He speaks with some historic authority.
BENNETT: He's a hero, but in terms of the Republican party he's a more isolated figure than Don Rumsfeld is. The fuel for this is the general's criticism, but you have about 8,000 generals out there. That leaves 7,992 who have not criticized Don Rumsfeld.
Some of these criticisms are starting to ring a little hollow. Don Shepperd just reported, he's an honorable and honest man. He had this meeting with 15 former generals and the secretary. Not one of them, and several of them have made criticisms behind Don Rumsfeld's back, not one of them would say it to his face today, according to General Shepperd.
You have these generals who, like Batiste, said of Don Rumsfeld, "he's got the courage and conviction to win the war on terror," when he was in service. When he leaves service then he criticizes him. Not one of them -- and several of them have made criticisms behind Don Rumsfeld's back -- not one of them would -- would say it to his face today, according to General Shepperd.
You have these generals, who, like Batiste, said of Don Rumsfeld, he has got the courage and conviction to win the war on terror, when he was in service. When he leaves service, then he criticizes them. As these things unfold, we read Zinni's comments early in the war, these guys have less credibility. They don't get stars for this kind of stuff.
BLITZER: But you're not suggesting this, as I have heard some on the political right suggesting, there's some sort of organized conspiracy or plot, weaving in these generals to try to do damage to... BENNETT: No.
BLITZER: ... the administration?
BENNETT: No, I think they are doing a little bit of covering their own behinds, because of mistakes.
But some of these mistakes, frankly, were probably mistakes made by generals. I mean, Don Rumsfeld didn't order Abu Ghraib. That was under someone's command. And it wasn't Don Rumsfeld's.
But I think there's some interest here, when history is written, that they looked that they were outside the loop. But, the more we learn about what people were involved in and how they said, yes, sir, yes, sir, and snapped to, we see it's not a profile in courage.
There are generals...
BLITZER: All right.
BENNETT: ... who have resigned. And John Singlaub resigned. Colin Powell threatened to resign. People can do this. And that's more honorable.
BRAZILE: And some generals were canned after they spoke up and questioned the secretary's strategy in Iraq.
And we know that those generals wanted to present a different plan. And, often, we heard that Mr. Rumsfeld did not even listen to them, let alone take into consideration some of their concerns. That's General Shinseki, General Zinni, many other generals...
BLITZER: There's a...
BRAZILE: ... General...
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: There is an honorable tradition among retired U.S. military officers, once they leave, take off their uniform, going out in the political world and becoming very outspoken.
General Colin Powell became a big Republican advocate after he gave up...
BENNETT: Sure.
BLITZER: ... his military career.
General Wesley Clark, on the Democratic side, ran for president, was outspoken in criticizing the commander in chief.
So, why is it unusual to see these other retired generals now getting criticized for speaking out as civilians in their...
BENNETT: Well... BLITZER: ... private life?
BENNETT: Well, you have got to realize something.
I said I didn't think there was a conspiracy. But you have got to realize that, some of us, when we look at the timing of this, it does seem to be quite convenient, all coming on the heels of...
BLITZER: But maybe they are so...
BENNETT: ... of each other's comments.
BLITZER: ... just passionate, and they're...
BENNETT: Well, maybe they are, but...
BLITZER: And they're really -- they're really angry, and they're really upset, and maybe they are frustrated that, when they were in uniform, they didn't speak out more forcefully.
BENNETT: Well, maybe.
(LAUGHTER)
BENNETT: You can do the psychology of this and get inside their minds. I can't. I don't know what they're doing.
But it seems to me that the majority of people in the military actually do still admire and respect Don Rumsfeld.
And the test for me is, when you get 16 guys in a room, and here's the guy in question, if these guys who are required and criticizing him now couldn't speak up to him today, I will go with the guy who is straight-speaking.
BRAZILE: Well, it appears that, today, at least with General Shepperd reporting, we will see if he reports something differently later on, is that this was a message development session, where they talked about, the message is not getting out.
Again, this is not a P.R. campaign, that the president can improve what is going on, on the ground by just changing some syllables here or some semantics. They need a real course change immediately in Iraq, so that this -- that the Iraqi people form their government, the Iraqi troops can begin to stand to -- to stand up, so our troops can go home.
That's what is at stake. And, by the way, Bill, 48...
(CROSSTALK)
BRAZILE: Forty-eight troops have died in the first two weeks of -- first two weeks in April.
I believe one of the reasons why these generals are speaking out is because they feel that things are going -- things are getting out of hand, and things are not going as planned, and, perhaps, this is the time to stand up.
BENNETT: They certainly can speak, and no one argues with that.
But the question is, is there real candor? Is there real courage here? If they come in to the CNN studio and, all of a sudden, sing a different tune than they were singing when they sat there with Don Rumsfeld, I'm sorry. I'm not going to be one who is going to give them a standing ovation. It's about candor and courage. And, again, I don't think these are profiles of courage.
BRAZILE: But I do believe they are courageous. And we saw what happened when John Kerry spoke up....
BLITZER: All right.
BRAZILE: ... when Jack Murtha spoke up...
BENNETT: Yes.
BRAZILE: ... and Max Cleland.
BLITZER: All right, guys.
BENNETT: They got criticized, too. That's the way it works.
BLITZER: We have got to leave it there.
Donna and Bill, thanks very much.
BENNETT: Thank you.
BLITZER: Good discussion.
Should the secretary of defense step down? It's a popular topic within the online military community as well.
Our Internet reporter, Jacki Schechner, is standing by.
What are you picking up, Jacki?
JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, we wanted to start with Matt, who runs blackfive.net. That is often considered the top military blog.
Now, his posts on the topic is generally a survey of discussion. But I spoke to him today. And he said the consensus he sees is respect for the generals, but a little bit of skepticism as to why they are speaking out.
Let's take a look at some of the other military bloggers. This is Josh. He's a retired Marine. And he says to the generals, "Please stop immediately." He says that their speaking-out is "profoundly disturbing," as he called it.
Let's go over to a submarine commander, Commander Salamander, he calls himself, calls it "the battle of the bitter boys," pointing out that the mistakes that were made in Iraq are bigger than one person, calls the whole thing political posturing. "It's now time to look ahead and not look back."
Let's go over to former cavalry -- or retired cavalry, rather. And he says, this whole thing is coming out as whining. It is looking more like midterm elections and politics, more than anything else.
And, then, going down to Jason, who served in Iraq -- he's Army National Guard. And he says that this whole thing is bigger than -- than Rumsfeld, that he is not the man who made our foreign policy by himself -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jacki, thank you very much.
And, remember, coming up in the next hour, our three CNN military analysts are going to be standing by right here in THE SITUATION ROOM. We will continue this discussion on Don Rumsfeld. Should he step down?
Also coming up, will the pain at the pump affect the battle for Congress this year? We're going to take a closer look at the possible political fallout from skyrocketing gas prices.
Plus, the long ride home to New Orleans -- displaced voters are getting -- going to great lengths to cast ballots in the city's first election since Hurricane Katrina. Our Candy Crowley has the story.
Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: President Bush says he's concerned about rising gas prices. And you can bet he's not the only one. And this is likely to make matters worse. Crude oil prices rose even higher today, closing at a record peak of over $71 a barrel. It wasn't that long ago it was $20 or $30 a barrel.
Our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider, is looking at the pump politics, the whole issue of what is going on. He's joining us live -- Bill.
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Wolf, $3 a gallon for gas, will that be a political issue this year? You bet it will.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Gas stations are becoming the hot new political prop.
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: The price of gasoline is going up, up, up.
SCHNEIDER: Three bucks a gallon, and the peak driving season hasn't even started. President Bush brought the issue up without even being asked about it. He explained that there are three reasons for the price hike.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: One, the increase in the price of crude oil. Secondly, there's increasing demand. Thirdly, we're switching fuel mixes.
SCHNEIDER: Sounds like the president is saying, hey, it's nobody's fault. Many analysts are inclined to agree.
DAVID SANDALOW, ENVIRONMENT SCHOLAR, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: The biggest factor in the price increase right now is supply and demand. There is huge increasing demand in China and in the United States.
SCHNEIDER: Poppycock, say Democrats.
SCHUMER: A 30 cent increase is hard to explain strictly by the laws of supply and demand.
SCHNEIDER: They say, somebody is up to no good.
SCHUMER: I think that price-gouging laws could and should be strengthened, because I think there's more and more of it.
SCHNEIDER: President Bush was worried enough about the issue to add a fourth factor that might be worth looking into.
BUSH: And I'm also mindful that the government has the responsibility to make sure that we watch very carefully and investigate possible price-gouging.
SCHNEIDER: The president should be worried. Among voters who say the rise in gasoline prices is not causing them financial hardship, 43 percent intend to vote Democratic for Congress. Those who say gas prices are causing some hardship are voting 53 percent Democratic. And those who say gas prices are causing serious hardship are voting 64 percent Democratic. That includes 44 percent of Americans.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER: Experts say, concern over Iran's nuclear ambitions and instability in Nigeria are driving prices up.
It's hard to figure out who is to blame for that -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Bill, thank you very much.
And it turns out there is something all of us can do about surging gas prices, beyond simply walking.
Let's get some answers from our Internet reporter, Abbi Tatton -- Abbi.
ABBI TATTON, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, there are plenty of sites out there trying to help you and I find the cheapest gas in our area or if we're taking a road trip, like mapgasprices.com here. It allows you to plug in the route you're going, the town you're going through, a street address, to compare prices of different gas stations along that route. The AAA has a fuel-cost calculator. That allows you -- it takes the averages of the different regions, prices. And it combines them with a trip that you're going to take and even the make of your vehicle. It then calculates how much that is going to cost you.
Now, those two sites rely on gas-price data to come up with that information. Other sites out there rely on people like you and me, people power, people reporting in the prices in their local region -- all of those available at CNN.com/SITUATIONREPORT -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Thanks very much, Abbi.
Coming up, New Orleans residents displaced by Katrina go a long, long way to try to cast their ballots. We're going to follow their bus ride back home to make sure their votes count.
And what would bring Rudy Giuliani and Arnold Schwarzenegger together? A big-name Republican pairing in our "Political Radar" -- that's coming up.
You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back.
The New Orleans mayoral candidates are counting down to Saturday's election. Last night, seven contenders faced off in a debate, including the incumbent mayor, Ray Nagin, and the leading challenger, Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu.
The debate got some national TV airplay, aimed at those New Orleans residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Many are going back home to try to take advantage of the early voting.
Our senior political correspondent, Candy Crowley, is joining us here in THE SITUATION ROOM with the -- the story of this very unusual election.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It's true, Wolf.
Did you ever sort of say to yourself, now, how far would I go to cast a ballot? And for tens of thousands of New Orleanians, this is not an idle question.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CROWLEY (voice-over): The midnight bus from Georgia is leaving soon.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let me have your attention, please. Has everybody -- Des (ph) -- has everybody signed a clipboard with your Atlanta address on it?
CROWLEY: Lisa Delay will be on board, headed a little south and mostly west, to New Orleans.
LISA DELAY, NEW ORLEANS VOTER: So, we're on this bus, trying to do what we can. And we feel that it's -- we feel an allegiance to that city. We want to vote. We want our votes to count.
CROWLEY: Fearful that confusion, bureaucracy and the vagaries of mail delivery would keep displaced New Orleanians from getting or returning absentee ballots, the NAACP put together early-voting bus trips from Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and here in Atlanta, where they expected about 90 voters to take the ride. Less than half that number showed up, powered by gasoline, fueled by fury.
DELAY: I don't live here right now. And I can't live here right now. We don't have a home to come to. But that means that I have to do something.
CROWLEY: How many will do something? How many will vote? The secretary of state's office in Baton Rouge sent out more than 15,000 absentee ballots. By Monday, only a third had been returned. And, of the nearly 300,000 registered in Orleans Parish, about 11,000 voters cast a ballot early. Forty of them rode the bus eight-and-a-half hours from Georgia.
They stopped for gas an hour north of Mobile, Alabama. They slept along the way and ate breakfast in Slidell.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our community is going to be a better place.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
CROWLEY: They talked about jobs in Atlanta and homes in New Orleans.
Across Lake Pontchartrain, into Orleans Parish, the closer they got, the harder it was to keep going. And, whether by accident or design, as the bus passed home after ruined home, "America the Beautiful" played overhead.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
RAY CHARLES, MUSICIAN: America, America...
(END AUDIO CLIP)
CROWLEY: It is 464 miles from NAACP headquarters in Atlanta to City Hall in New Orleans. They may be displaced and depressed. But, aboard the midnight bus from Georgia, they will not be disenfranchised.
DELAY: I'm glad that I made the trip. And then you vote, you know? So, you have to -- you place your faith in God, and you have done what you're supposed to do.
CROWLEY: Mission accomplished.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CROWLEY: In the 2002 mayoral primary in New Orleans, less than half of registered voters actually voted.
While the actions or inactions of local politicians before, during and after Katrina may be powerful incentive to cast a ballot this time, there is considerable concern that difficult logistics will trump the fervor that is clearly there -- Wolf.
BLITZER: I admire those people making that trek. That...
CROWLEY: Eight-and-a-half hours.
BLITZER: That is really, really patriotic.
CROWLEY: Amazing.
BLITZER: Good work. Thanks, Candy, very much.
On our "Political Radar" this Tuesday -- possible presidential candidates and their cash.
New filings with the Federal Election Commission show Senator Hillary Clinton with a bigger war chest than any other 2008 White House hopeful. At the end of the March -- check this out -- the New York Democrat had nearly $20 million in her Senate reelection campaign account. She could use any leftover money for a White House campaign, if she makes that decision.
The number-two Democrat in the 2008 money race is Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts. He has about $14 million in the bank, spread out over four federal campaign committees. Most of his money is left over from his failed 2004 presidential campaign. He could use that cash, though, in 2008, if he makes that decision.
Another possible Democratic contender in 2008 showing some fund- raising promise -- in the first three months of this year, the former Virginia Governor Mark Warner raised an impressive $1.8 million for his political action committee.
On the Republican side, Virginia Senator George Allen reportedly raised $1.7 million for his reelection campaign in the first quarter of this year. But his formal filing isn't expected until Thursday. We should get a better handle on his presidential fund-raising power at that point.
A number of White House hopefuls are expected to file their financial reports on Thursday as well, including leading Republicans John McCain, Mitt Romney, and Rudy Giuliani.
Speaking of Rudy Giuliani, the New York tabloids report that the former New York mayor will headline a fund-raiser for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at the end of the month. Senator John McCain recently helped Governor Schwarzenegger raise campaign cash. Stumping for Schwarzenegger is a high-profile task for a possible White House hopeful. We will see more of that coming up.
Coming up here in THE SITUATION ROOM, should you be worried about your dental fillings? Does the mercury that some fillings contain pose a threat to you or your children? We're going to take a closer look at the results of a brand-new study out this hour. We're going to have those details. That is coming up next.
Also, in the next hour, new developments today in the Duke lacrosse rape investigation -- we will go live to Durham, North Carolina, where two of the lacrosse players are now out on bail.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Let's check in with Zain once again at the CNN Center for some other news making headlines -- Zain.
VERJEE: Wolf, three people have been killed and a fourth person wounded in a workplace shooting. It happened at a catering company in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Two of the dead are female employees. And the third has been identified as a male. An official says that the male appears to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The fourth person that was injured has been taken to hospital.
In Florida, shades of gray amid fields of green -- this after a brushfire broke out in southern Broward County. Highway officials shut down both lanes of the Florida Turnpike in the area. And firefighters are battling the blaze. Officials say, the fire did not threaten the road, but the smoke made it especially difficult for drivers to see.
And two government-sponsored studies find no evidence that long- used dental fillings containing mercury might harm children. At issue was whether or not the dental fillings, also called silver fillings, caused brain damage or any other neurological problems in children. The two long-awaited studies say that there is no evidence to support that -- Wolf.
BLITZER: I can't tell you how happy I am to hear that, Zain...
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: ... given my history when I was young of having some of those fillings.
Zain, you have beautiful teeth. I'm sure you have no fillings at all.
VERJEE: Well, actually...
BLITZER: Still...
(LAUGHTER) BLITZER: Never mind.
VERJEE: Well, anyway.
BLITZER: Still to come: Georgia's governor signs an immigration bill. Should the states bigfoot Washington on the issue of immigration? Jack Cafferty will be back with your e-mail.
And should Donald Rumsfeld stay or go? We're going to have a roundtable discussion with our CNN military analysts, three retired U.S. generals.
That's coming up here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Check back with Jack. He has got "The Cafferty File" -- Jack.
CAFFERTY: Thanks, Wolf.
Georgia's governor signing a sweeping immigration bill that gives the state some of the toughest measures against illegal aliens in the country.
Meanwhile, our dysfunctional do-nothing Congress continues on vacation.
The question is: Should individual states pass their own immigration laws?
Mike in Florida writes: "Considering how poorly the U.S. government is dealing with 'illegal' immigration and the borders, and the costs associated with these same 'illegal' immigrants being dropped in the states' laps, why should they not be able to make laws to deal with the problem?"
Ross in Houston writes: "Since Congress refuses to do anything about immigration, states should absolutely have a right to enact their own legislation to curb illegal immigration. As an immigrant- turned-U.S.-citizen, my family and I waited, patiently, for more than 10 years to have our resident visas approved -- and rightfully so. The U.S., as a sovereign nation, has an absolute right and obligation to protect its borders and safeguard its citizens."
John in Los Angeles: "Jack, since Congress is bogged down on vacation, contemplating the agendas of the corporations they serve and the marriage of church and state, it seems a good idea that the states should pass laws based on their individual needs."
Bill in Mount Juliet, Tennessee: "We definitely need tougher laws to deal with illegal aliens. However, they should be at the federal level. Otherwise, illegals will 'shop around' for the best deal. That's one of the reasons Tennessee had such an influx of illegal aliens. At one time, we were handing out driver's licenses like they were pieces of candy at the Mardi Gras parade." And Clara in Benjamin, Texas: "Yes, they should. If our Congress refuses to enforce our immigration laws to keep illegal aliens out of our states, then I think it would be a good idea for the states to do it. We can't keep providing them all the benefits that they're receiving here free of charge. We just don't have the money" -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jack, thanks very much.
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