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The Situation Room
GOP Congressman's Daughter's House Raided by FBI; 'Liberty Sunday' Attempts to Rally Values Voters for GOP
Aired October 16, 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, another October surprise in the battle for Congress. The FBI raids the homes of a Republican congressman's daughter and close friend. Why is Curt Weldon being targeted and why now three weeks before Election Day?
Also this hour, an axis of anxiety. North Korea's dictator sticks to his nuclear guns while the body count in Iraq reaches a disturbing new level. It's 4:00 p.m. here in Washington. We have a brand new poll on Americans' worst fears about North Korea and the prospect of another war.
Plus, a political holy war. A new push to get Christian conservatives fired up and into the voting booth. And a new charge by a former White House insider that the Bush administration has manipulated people of faith.
I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
Up first this hour, another Republican congressman under federal investigation and in political peril. That would be Representative Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania. Today the FBI raided the homes of Weldon's daughter and a close friend. Sources say the Justice Department is looking into allegations that Weldon used his position in the Congress to direct contracts -- lucrative contracts to his daughter's firm.
Weldon denies any wrong-doing and he charges the probe is politically motivated and the timing, he says, is suspect, three weeks before America votes. Let's go to our congressional correspondent Dana Bash, she is watching this story for us -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, a federal law enforcement official acknowledges that they were concerned about this investigation becoming public and the result of that perhaps some of the potential evidence being tainted. And that is why the FBI moved fast to move up the raids that they conducted today on places from Philadelphia, all the way to Jacksonville, Florida.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASH (voice-over): A senior federal law enforcement official confirms the FBI conducted six searches Monday of businesses and residences relating to the Weldon probe, including the Philadelphia home of Karen Weldon, the congressman's daughter.
Neither Karen Weldon nor her attorney returned CNN's calls for comment. Congressman Weldon told reporters in Pennsylvania, quote: "I've not done anything wrong. I've never helped my daughter get anything. My kids are qualified on their own."
The investigation appears to be focused on whether the congressman helped two Russian companies and two Serbian brothers become clients of his daughter's lobbying firm. One source with knowledge of the inquiry tells CNN these lobbying contracts, apparently worth about a million dollars a year, have been under investigation for more than six months.
Both Weldon's attorney and chief of staff say they have not been alerted by the FBI about the investigation. Weldon attorney William Canfield tells CNN: "Here is a sitting member of Congress, pretty high up, who unnamed sources said is the subject of an investigation. We, however, can't possibly confirm that because no one has told us if that's true."
The Pennsylvania Republican, a 20-year veteran of the House, is in a neck-and-neck race to keep his seat. He calls the timing of this, three weeks before Election Day politically motivated, and blames Melanie Sloan, head of a liberal-leaning watchdog group for spurring the issue.
Sloan says she did file a complaint with the FBI but did that two-and-a-half years ago when questions were first raised by The Los Angeles Times.
MELANIE SLOAN, CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBILITY & ETHICS IN WASHINGTON: We don't control what the Justice Department does. The Justice Department is investigating Curt Weldon. And I can't force the Justice Department to do anything.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: Meanwhile, government officials say they don't open or close investigations based on political pressure, they do that based on the evidence that they see. And also, Weldon's attorney tells us, Wolf, that they did -- take documentation, a lot of it, he says, to the House Ethics Committee two-and-a-half years ago, which he says proves that Curt Weldon did nothing wrong.
Also he says that Weldon's office put safeguards in place once his daughter became a lobbyist in order to show or at least avoid any impropriety -- Wolf.
BLITZER: He's a Republican in Pennsylvania, Dana. He was in deep trouble. He was potentially facing the life -- the race of his life even before these allegations now have surfaced. Is that right?
BASH: That's absolutely right. And it had nothing to do with -- or at least didn't have a lot to do with anything related to any potential corruption or any potential probe. The issue mostly in the 7th District of Pennsylvania so far has been Iraq. He has a Democratic opponent who is a retired three-star admiral, somebody who has been making Iraq a big issue.
And if you look at the polls and talk to even Republicans in Pennsylvania, it has been working for the Democrats. So already Curt Weldon is in a tough race about something completely different. This is certainly, his aides acknowledge, the last thing he needs. But as you see, they're trying to fight back and say that this is politically motivated.
BLITZER: Yes. Good timing for him, couldn't have been worse, Dana. Thanks very much. We'll watch this story. Let's get some more on the closed door testimony in the Mark Foley congressional page scandal. At issue, once again today, what Republican leaders knew about Foley's inappropriate messages to teenage boys and when they knew it.
The chief of staff to Louisiana Congressman Rodney Alexander was questioned by the House Ethics panel. Alexander sponsored a page who later complained about overly friendly e-mail from Foley. Alexander's office says it brought the complaint to the house speaker's office last fall but an ex-Foley aide said he warned the speaker's office about Foley's behavior more than three years ago.
The Senate Democratic leader is taking new action today in response to questions about his profits on a land deal in Nevada. Harry Reid of Nevada announced today he's amending his ethics reports to Congress to more fully account for the 2004 sale of land in Las Vegas. The move comes after the Associated Press reported Reid collected more than $1 million for the property which the AP says Reid had not owned for more than three years. Reid disputes strongly the Associated Press report. He strongly also denies any wrongdoing whatsoever.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is warning today that the U.S. and its allies will stand firm in their punishment of North Korea's nuclear defiance. Rice heads to Asia tomorrow to rally those allies and to try to keep the heat on Kim Jong Il's regime in North Korea which would slapped with U.N. sanctions over the weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: I am not concerned that the Chinese are going to turn their backs on their obligations. I don't think they would have voted for a resolution that they did not intend to carry through on.
And let's remember, no one has an interest in seeing the trade in dangerous materials or weapons of mass destruction. That is, if anything, more destabilizing to the neighbors than even to the interest of the United States. And so I fully expect that we will use this tool and use it wisely.
I do hear states saying that they want to be certain that it won't ratchet up conflict. We have no desire to ratchet up conflict either.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Today the Bush administration is confirming evidence that North Korea did conduct an underground nuclear test last week. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence says radioactive debris was found in air samples in the area of the explosion. We're going to have a more detailed, fuller report from our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, that's coming up here in THE SITUATION ROOM in the next hour.
Meanwhile, fresh carnage in Iraq, part of a four-day rampage that the government in Baghdad appears powerless to stop. At least 44 people were killed by explosions and gunfire in the Iraqi capital and in several nearby towns today. And police found more than two dozen bullet-riddled bodies in various neighborhoods, some showing signs of torture.
A new CNN tally shows the number of coalition military forces killed in Iraq now has surpassed 3,000. That includes 2,770 U.S. troops who have died since the Iraq War began. With the bloodshed clearly increasing, the White House says President Bush phoned the Iraqi prime minister earlier today to assure Nouri al-Maliki that the U.S. has not set any deadline for the Iraqi government to get control of sectarian violence.
Meantime, a second influential Republican senator now says a change of course may be needed in the Bush administration's Iraq policy. Yesterday here on CNN's "LATE EDITION," I spoke to Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska. He acknowledged he now shares the concerns of the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, John Warner.
The White House press secretary, Tony Snow, responded to that today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: As the president said last week, I think you're trying to pick a fight that doesn't exist. As you may recall, the president told all of you that he agrees with Senator Warner, that you do have to adjust. And I think, again, Senator Hagel does not say we don't want to win, I believe. He did not say that, did he? Because I didn't see the comments.
But so then you proceed along the road of trying to figure out, OK, how do you win? And what he says is, you need to change course constantly and that is absolutely true.
BLITZER: Let's get now to our brand new CNN poll numbers on Iraq, North Korea, and the threat to the United States. For that, as we always do, we bring in our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider -- Bill.
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Wolf, our new poll shows that the public's view of the North Korea situation is heavily influenced by their view of Iraq. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Leading Republicans now acknowledge that the situation in Iraq is bad.
SEN. JOHN WARNER (R), VIRGINIA: It seems to me that the situation is simply drifting sidewise.
SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: We clearly need a new strategy, obviously, by any measurement. We're in a lot of trouble in Iraq.
SCHNEIDER: Nearly two-thirds of Americans now say they oppose the war in a new CNN poll conducted the Opinion Research Corporation. That includes a majority of men and an overwhelming 70 percent of women. Pessimism about Iraq is contributing to a continuing deterioration in President Bush's support. Sixty-one percent now disapprove of Bush's job as president, his worst rating ever. The president's rating on Iraq is even lower, 64 percent disapprove.
But Mr. Bush's ratings on North Korea are not so bad, 47 to 41 percent approve. The president's approach to North Korea has been less bellicose.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So my administration decided to take a new approach. We brought together other nations in the region in an effort to resolve the situation through multilateral diplomacy.
SCHNEIDER: Sixty percent of Americans believe the situation with North Korea can be resolved using diplomacy and economic sanctions. More than 70 percent believed that three years ago.
Suppose diplomacy and sanctions fail, would the public favor taking military action against North Korea? Three years ago, Americans were divided. Now, a majority opposes military action. Why? Iraq. More than 70 percent of Americans believe the war in Iraq is making it harder for the United States to deal with North Korea.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER: We also have been hearing a debate over whether the Bush administration's policies or the Clinton administration's policies are more to blame for the problems with North Korea. Fifty- three percent of Americans say they blame the Bush administration a great deal or a moderate amount. Forty-three percent blame the Clinton administration -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Bill Schneider reporting for us. Thank you, Bill. We're going to have more on these poll numbers coming up. Remember, Bill Schneider, Dana Bash, they are part of the best political team on television. And remember, for all the latest campaign news at any time, check out the political ticker. Go to cnn.com/ticker.
Jack Cafferty is off today working on his special report that airs Thursday. Jack -- "The Cafferty File," though, will return tomorrow. Coming up, the ground wars, with 22 days left until voters go to the polls where the parties put their money is clearly crucial. We are going to follow the campaign cash when we come back. Stuart Rothenberg standing by for that.
Plus, does the White House take religious voters for granted? The author of a controversial new book is standing by to join us live right here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
Also coming up, the situation in Hawaii one day after a powerful earthquake rocked the island. Lots of news coming up. Stick around. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Zain Verjee is off today, she is getting ready to travel with the secretary of state to China and Korea and Russia. She'll be back over the next several days with her report. In the meantime, Carol Costello is joining us now from New York with a closer look at some other important stories making news.
Good to have you in THE SITUATION ROOM, Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you, Wolf. Residents of Hawaii are seeing just how bad things really are. Right now they are assessing the damage one day after an earthquake and after-shock shook the islands. Officials are checking damage to roads, public facilities and people's homes. Power is back on to many in the island of Hawaii, but officials say much of the power is still out on Oahu. No one died but there are reports of dozens of people injured.
In the meantime, the streets look more like small rivers and cars look more like boats in parts of Texas. Heavy rain fell over the Houston/Galveston area over the night. Today officials say at least three people have died amid the floods, two were women believed to have drowned in their SUV on a Houston roadway. And one man died after his vehicle hydroplaned and landed in a flooded ditch.
It could be a clue to vicious murders. In Florida, police found a black SUV believed to have belonged to a family murdered Friday. Police are inspecting it for fingerprints, clothing, fibers, and other possible clues. On Friday, a father, wife, two young sons were found dead along the Florida Turnpike. The man was found lying face up while the mother was found lying face down on top of her children.
And in Iowa, a son accused of killing his parents and three teenage sisters after being arrested in Illinois on Saturday, 22-year- old Shawn Michael Bentler today waived extradition and will return to Iowa to face charges. The victims were found Saturday in the town of Bonaparte. Police say a 14-year-old daughter called a 911 call and a police complaint says a caller warned that Bentler was going to do something and a voice screamed on the phone for the man not to.
And, Wolf, that's a look at what's happening right now.
BLITZER: All right. Some pretty horrible stories there. Carol, thanks very much. Carol will be back. She is following some other news for us. We're also following the money. With 22 days left until Election Day, where are the two political parties putting their campaign cash? The answer could determine who wins control of the Senate and the House.
And later, why is Hillary Clinton now apologizing to John McCain? Find out in today's "Political Radar." Stick around. Much more news. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back to THE SITUATION ROOM. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. The Republican National Committee today is denying a report that the party is moving to reduce financial support for incumbent Senator Mike DeWine of Ohio. The New York Times reports the GOP has concluded that DeWine is heading for defeat against Democratic challenger Sherrod Brown. But RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman tells our senior political correspondent Candy Crowley the party is not, repeat, not pulling out of Ohio.
Mehlman insists the RNC is going to spend millions on the ground and millions in delivering its message over the next three weeks. Stu Rothenberg of the Rothenberg Political Report is here with more on what is called the ground war in these final weeks before Election Day.
What is going on in Ohio? We know this is a tough race but what are you hearing?
STUART ROTHENBERG, ROTHENBERG POLITICAL REPORT: Well, the buzz about the story that the RNC is effectively writing off Ohio seems to be wrong. In fact, the Republican National Committee has a $1 million TV buy beginning very shortly in the state. They are pumping more than a million dollars to their effort to save Mike DeWine.
Look, Wolf, there is constantly assessment and reassessment about which races matter, but it looks as though the Republicans are not just pulling the plug on Ohio now.
BLITZER: What are the polls in Ohio -- the most recent polls show in this race between DeWine and Brown?
ROTHENBERG: Well, the numbers that I've seen, some of them private, some of them public, suggest that DeWine trails, he trails by a few points, Sherrod Brown is ahead. And there has been a lot of advertising so far. So it's going to be hard to move numbers. But this race is close enough, within the margin of error, so that it's still in play.
Now in another couple of weeks, will the Republicans turn their attention to other races and away from Ohio? Possibly. But you can't say that right now.
BLITZER: Three weeks to go as of tomorrow. There are three states we're told that are clearly critical right now for the Republicans and their ability to hold the majority in the Senate. ROTHENBERG: Right. And there was some discussion of this in the same story, the Ohio story that we're talking about. Absolutely. The three states are Tennessee, Virginia, and Missouri. They're all within the margin of error. They are all competitive. These are Republican-leaning states and they have been trending that way.
BLITZER: Let's go through them one-by-one. Missouri first, Jim Talent facing challenger Claire McCaskill.
ROTHENBERG: Well, there is a new Democratic poll out -- Democratic poll showing McCaskill ahead by about 5 points. I think you need to step back, don't swallow one poll. If you look at a handful that been done recently, this race is within the margin of error. Sometimes Talent is up by a couple of points, sometimes he is down by 2 or 3.
BLITZER: Let's go to Tennessee. This is a close race -- shaping us as a very close race. Harold Ford Jr., the Democrat facing Bob Corker, the Republican. This is Bill Frist's seat.
ROTHENBERG: Yes. I didn't think it would be this close this late in the cycle. Harold Ford has run a very good race. Early on he defined himself as a moderate before the Republicans were able to attack him. Corker has changed his campaign organization now. The Republicans are nationally going to put more money into this race to try to paint Harold Ford as a liberal. If they succeed, they are going to hold this seat, if they don't, Ford has a terrific chance of winning.
BLITZER: The next race which is critical for the Republicans, Virginia. It was supposed to be relatively easy, but that's history.
ROTHENBERG: Right. Senator George Allen made this race competitive. You're right. I had never thought we would get to this point where Jim Webb would be locked in a horse race with Allen. Webb's early money was weak but as Allen has imploded, Democratic funds have gone into Virginia. Webb had a terrific last quarter. This race is going to go down to the wire.
BLITZER: The president and the vice president have been very busy in this election cycle, 2005-2006, raising money for Republicans. We're now told that they have effectively raised more than $220 million, which is a lot of cash, as you know. Talk a little bit about this.
ROTHENBERG: Not bad fund raising for a guy whose disapproval stands at 61 percent. But you have to remember that Republicans still support this president more than the electorate as a whole. There is still a lot of energy out there for Republicans. And not only that, Wolf, but the president is a celebrity. President of the United States.
He's more than just a politician. So a lot of people want to go to these events, contribute, see the president, phone home, tell their kids and grandkids that they have seen the president of the United States. He is still a very prolific fundraiser. BLITZER: We will see you back here in THE SITUATION ROOM later this week with Amy Walters. Thanks very much for coming in.
ROTHENBERG: Sure.
BLITZER: And up next, the battle for the hearts and minds of conservative voters. Will amendments that ban gay marriage motivate church-goers to vote?
Plus, does the White House take such voters simply for granted? A former White House aide who is out with a controversial new book, he is standing by to join us next right here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Political crusade now under way to try to get evangelical Christians to polling places on November 7th. An event held in Boston last night was designed to fire up the religious right by addressing a hot button issue, same sex marriage. CNN's Dan Lothian now has more on the latest skirmish in the culture wars -- Dan.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the fight against same sex marriage did energize evangelicals in 2004 and help President Bush win a second term. Now, with just three weeks to go before the crucial midterm elections, the issue of same sex marriage is again being used to rally the faithful.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOTHIAN (voice-over): A massive appeal to evangelicals across the country, uplinked to hundreds of churches and broadcast on Christian media. The message: preserve religious rights by opposing same sex marriage.
TONY PERKINS, PRES., FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: Vote your values on November the 7th.
LOTHIAN: This evangelical rally of sorts called "Liberty Sunday" was organized by the conservative Family Research Council and held in Boston, in the only state where gay marriage is legal. A symbolic backdrop in the battle to energize conservatives, some of them frustrated by political scandals and others tempted to stay home on Election Day.
DR. RAY PENDLETON, TREMONT TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH: To remind people of what the consequences are, to remind people of what their responsibilities are. We want them to be thoughtful and respectful, but have a consistency between what they believe and what they do in the polling place.
LOTHIAN: Eight states will be voting on constitutional amendments that would bar same sex marriage. Pastors and politicians like Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney fired up conservatives, calling them to action. Everyone here clearly aware of what success could mean to the cause and to key congressional races. PERKINS: Make sure that not only you go and vote, but you call 10 people on Election Day and encourage them to go and vote.
LOTHIAN: But the opposition, like some of protesters outside the event, is organizing too, much more, some political experts say, than in 2004. And Democratic political consultant Doug Hattaway says this time around same sex marriage is less of a lightning rod.
DOUG HATTAWAY, DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL CONSULTANT: It rallies some people. Your average voter is -- looks at it and says, what's up with that? This is not an issue for most people.
LOTHIAN: Hattaway says, it's also much more difficult for evangelicals to point the finger, when some conservative politicians and operatives have been knee-deep in scandals.
HATTAWAY: This is clearly a last-minute sort of Hail Mary pass. They are desperate. Their own base is really angry at them, for good reason. I really doubt that an anti-gay sort of tirade at the 11th hour is going to change things.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LOTHIAN: But some at the event told us, while they are disappointed with some politicians in their party, they are still motivated to vote on their values. The question is, will they turn out in big numbers? -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Dan Lothian reporting for us -- thank you, Dan.
And, by the way, tomorrow, among my guests, the governor, the Republican governor, of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, will be here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
Meanwhile, a new book is raising questions about the Bush administration's true feelings about conservative Christians, even as Republicans, clearly, are counting on their votes.
David Kuo served as deputy director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in the Bush administration. He is the author of a new book entitled "Tempting Faith: An Inside Story Of Political Seduction."
David, thanks very much for coming in.
DAVID KUO, AUTHOR, "TEMPTING FAITH: AN INSIDE STORY OF POLITICAL SEDUCTION": It's great to be here.
BLITZER: Your book -- your book is generating lots of commotion out there, because, among other things, you write this on page 229.
You say: "National Christian leaders received hugs and smiles in person, and then were dismissed behind their backs, and described as 'ridiculous,' 'out of control,' and just plain 'goofy'"
Who in -- specifically in the White House was uttering such -- such words?
KUO: Wolf, I have written a very personal, political and spiritual memoir. And, as such, I didn't -- I made the decision specifically to not name names. You know, I don't want to embarrass people.
I didn't want to embarrass Christian leaders who had things said -- about them. I didn't want to embarrass people on the staff who said it. But it goes without saying that it is absolutely true.
And I think, you know, it has been interesting watching the media, because, you know, so many people have gotten up there on Capitol Hill who have been on Capitol Hill, the reporters or anybody who said, you know, this idea that -- that Republicans, you know, roll their eyes at Christian conservatives, it's kind of like, yeah, OK, what's -- that's absolutely true. And it -- you know, it's interesting, though, because...
BLITZER: Well, let me -- let me press you, because...
KUO: It's -- sure.
BLITZER: ... because it raises enormously significant questions, especially among conservative Christians, who are wondering if you're telling the truth, or if you're making this up, because there have been a lot of denials, as you well know.
Specifically, people like the Reverend Pat Robertson, what did they think about him inside the White House?
KUO: You know, again, Wolf, my point in writing this book, even though there are obviously things in it, like this, that are controversial, is, it was a spiritual perspective.
I look at that last package about Christians and politics, and I'm sad. I am truly sad, because you look at all of that energy, all of that passion. You look at trying to stir up people in hundreds of churches across the country about a political message. You know, I don't think the problem in America today that people have with Jesus is that, you know, he's not political enough.
You know, I think that, if I go up to somebody and say, gosh, you know, I want to tell you about Jesus, I think they -- they -- they think...
BLITZER: Because -- let me -- let me...
KUO: I think they...
BLITZER: Let me interrupt, because the charge you're making, which is a serious charge, is, there were a bunch of hypocrites in the White House. They simply wanted the conservative right to vote for Republicans. They wanted to fund-raise among Republicans, but their heart really wasn't there.
KUO: That's absolutely... BLITZER: Focus -- Focus on the Family issued a statement on Friday: "The release of this book criticizing the Bush administration's handling of its faith-based initiative program seems to represent little more than a mix of sour grapes and political timing."
I want -- I want you to respond to that.
KUO: Well, great. I want to -- if I missed something here, tell me what I have missed.
But -- but, A, anybody who reads the book, anybody who knows me, I don't -- I don't have sour grapes about this.
My concern about this is -- is the spiritual concern, Wolf. My concern is that -- that -- that -- that Christians sort of have this sense that, you know, Christian political leaders love them, adore them, that -- and President Bush is sort of a pastor in chief. But what everyone needs to know and understand is that Christians are viewed as simply only another constituency group.
They are the most important constituency group in the Republican Party right now, but that's it. That's it. That is what people care about.
BLITZER: And, so...
KUO: People care about their votes.
BLITZER: And, so, you're...
KUO: People don't care about...
BLITZER: And you're saying...
KUO: ... them. And that's...
BLITZER: The charge you're making is that these guys, who I assume, from the president, Karl Rove and other top officials in the White House, you're making the charge they are a bunch of hypocrites?
KUO: No. Wolf, I'm making a spiritual point to Christians about politics.
I'm saying, before you invest so much of your soul, so much of your lives in politics, you know, understand how you are viewed. I think that it's important for evangelical Christians to take a temporary step back from politics, to fast. You know, fasting is a very old...
BLITZER: And to -- and to stay away from politics. That's what you're recommending.
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Let me read -- let me read, also, from the book, "Tempting Faith."
You write this: "George W. Bush loves Jesus. He is a good man, but he is a politician. If the faith-based initiative was teaching me anything, it was about the president's capacity to care about perception more than reality. He wanted it to look good. He cared less about it being good."
All right. Explain what you mean there.
KUO: That's exactly right.
George W. Bush is a man of deep faith. You know, he's a man of tremendous empathy for the poor. He is a man who -- you know, who cares about people. And -- and, you know, it's why the stories have been out there about, you know, how moving it is -- how people are moved when he comforts those people who have lost others, from 9/11 to Iraq.
President Bush is head of the GOP. He is head of the government. He's a politician. And his job his to expand his power. His job is to expand his party's power. And, you know, he makes decisions, about what he is going to use, what he is going to emphasize. And his -- his staff understands that. And his staff understands that Christian conservatives are -- are very important, and -- you know, and are very easy, frankly, to manipulate.
One of the things I -- I write about in the book is, I -- I cite Chuck Colson, from something that he wrote about his time in the White House, when he was there in the early 1970s. And he was the one in charge...
BLITZER: In -- in the Nixon administration.
KUO: Yes -- sorry -- in the Nixon administration.
And he was in charge of trying to get Republican -- or conservative Christians -- Christians to do anything. And he said, of all the groups he had to deal with, they were the easiest, of all groups, to sort of roll over.
BLITZER: Here -- here is what Pat Robertson...
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: ... said, in reacting to your book: "I find it hard to believe, again, that someone like Karl Rove, who depends so terrifically on what he calls the base, that he would, behind the scenes, make snide remarks. It just doesn't compute."
Did Karl Rove make snide remarks about evangelical Christians that you heard, that you were an eyewitness to?
KUO: No. I -- and I never say that in the book, that Karl said that.
I mean, I -- I never say that about Karl. And I know that there have been media reports that said it was Karl. And I -- I simply never said that in the book.
What -- what Dr. Robertson said, however, is untrue, if you, you know, expand it to the -- the White House as a whole, if you expand it to the people who work there.
BLITZER: What about the notion...
KUO: You know, what he...
BLITZER: In the book, you -- you spoke about Karl Rove eye- rolling when he was talking about these people.
KUO: I don't think I specifically say that Karl Rove eye -- eye- rolled. I said I think lots of people did eye-roll. And that is true.
BLITZER: Was Karl Rove one of them?
KUO: No, I never saw it from Karl. I never did.
I think that there have been a lot of people who wanted to -- to -- to see that, and somehow make that more powerful.
But I think that -- that the point is absolutely true, and that is that it was his staff who did that. You know, it was the White House that -- that made these points. And it's important, in terms, for so many reasons. Again, it's important, for the spiritual terms, that people understand this.
Dr. Robertson needs to know that, actually, it is true that there was this sort of -- this sort of treatment. But, again...
BLITZER: All right.
KUO: ... from my perspective, in -- in writing the book, in talking about the book, I wanted Christians to know that, and to understand that.
BLITZER: Here is what Tony Snow, the White House press secretary, said on Friday, when asked about your book.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: When David Kuo left the White House, he sent the president a very warm letter, talking about how wonderful it was.
He said: Two-and-a-half years later, after joining the White House, I'm proud of all the initiative has accomplished.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Is Tony Snow right?
KUO: Yes. And that's -- if you read the entirety of the letter, I -- I say exactly that. But I also say, I am proud of what the initiative has accomplished. I didn't know -- you know, it's important to notice I didn't say all that we hadn't accomplished. I didn't say all of the promises that hadn't been fulfilled. And, if you read the letter as a whole, you know, that's the point.
I also have wonderful letters from Jim Towey and Karl Rove and Andy Card, you know, saying the most wonderful and glowing things about me. It's not surprising in a resignation letter that there are warm feelings.
I don't have hard feelings towards them. I think it is important, though, for Christians to understand the point about Christians and politics. I think it's also important -- it's an important informative point for Americans in general about how the White House dealt with the whole faith-based initiatives, which was -- was such a central promise and such a key component of the president's image to be a different kind of Republican.
BLITZER: And you were saying it had mostly political -- a political objective, as opposed to a spiritual objective.
I -- I -- I will read to you what your former boss, Jim Towey, told our Brian Todd the other day. He says, your descriptions in the book are absolutely untrue. He says that you were not a player in that office, not the player that you describe yourself as having been.
We're almost out of time, but do you want to briefly respond to...
KUO: It's...
BLITZER: ... your former boss?
KUO: It's kind of hard to say that I wasn't a player in the office, when I was his deputy.
(LAUGHTER)
KUO: I mean, it's -- you know, it -- it just -- it -- it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense.
But -- but I understand Jim's frustration. And -- and that's -- that's his frustration. But -- but the points are simply all true. And I think the White House is reacting so passionately now. It sort of proves the point, right? They're reacting so passionately now because they absolutely must have the Christian voters now.
BLITZER: And -- and we will leave it on that point.
The book is entitled "Tempting Faith: An Inside Story Of Political Seduction."
The author, David Kuo -- David, thanks very much for coming into THE SITUATION ROOM. KUO: Wolf, thanks.
BLITZER: And coming up: Why is Hillary Clinton now apologizing to John McCain? We are going to tell you about a war of words in what could be a preview of the next race for the White House?
That story in today's "Political Radar."
Plus: Mark Foley is gone, but the race for his House seat apparently still very much still going on. We are going to explain.
Stick around. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: On our "Political Radar" this Monday: tensions between two leading presidential prospects in 2008, Senator Hillary Clinton and John McCain -- the New York Democrat and former first lady disavowing a published quote from an unnamed adviser to her making light of the torture Senator McCain endured while a prisoner of war in the Vietnam era.
It's the latest round in a Clinton-McCain war of words over U.S. policy on torture, whether former President Bill Clinton shared blame for North Korea's nuclear defiance.
CNN asked Senator Clinton about the reported mocking of her Republican colleague.
Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: I have already responded to that. And we certainly have denounced that. It was offensive. And, you know, John McCain and I have a good working relationship. And we will continue to work together whenever we can.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: We are going to have a full report on this Clinton- McCain spat. That's coming up in the next hour here in THE SITUATION ROOM -- Carol Costello working on that.
Republican Senator George Allen plans to deliver a second prime- time address to Virginia voters tonight, effectively, an extended TV commercial. This time, he plans to appear with fellow Virginia Senator John Warner at his side. Allen and his Democratic challenger, Jim Webb, remain neck and neck three weeks before Election Day.
A new "Washington Post" poll shows Allen with 49 percent among likely voters, Webb with 47 percent.
Now to the race to replace former Congressman Mark Foley of Florida, who abruptly quit the House because of his inappropriate online messages to pages. A new Research 2000 poll shows Democrat Tim Mahoney with a seven-point lead over Republican Joe Negron. Foley is still on the ballot, but Florida Republicans tapped Negron to be the party's candidate and get the votes that go to Foley.
Florida Democrats have filed suit to keep notices out of polling places informing voters that Negron will get Foley's votes.
Remember, for the latest campaign news at any time, check out our Political Ticker. Go to CNN.com/ticker.
Up next, our SITUATION ROOM "Strategy Session": Christian voters have long been considered key to the Republican strategies to win elections. Now, three weeks from the midterm election, Republicans clearly trying to fire up the religious right. Also, did the Bush administration manipulate its Christian supporters simply to win elections?
That, coming up -- more on the claims in that new book by a former Bush administration official, all that to be discussed right here in our "Strategy Session."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: In today's "Strategy Session": ties between church and state -- the Bush administration has long courted Christian conservatives, but did some in the administration manipulate them simply to try to win votes?
Joining us now, two CNN political analysts. Donna Brazile is a Democratic strategist. Bay Buchanan is president of American Cause.
Bay, let me start with you.
BAY BUCHANAN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Sure.
BLITZER: You just heard David Kuo, the former deputy director of the faith-based initiative in the Bush administration, suggesting, you know what, these guys were only interested in politics; they really weren't interested in the substance of what they were trying -- what he was trying to achieve, at least.
BUCHANAN: His argument is a silly one.
And his points and the basis of his -- his argument are -- are weak, are extremely weak. He said they rolled their eyes. I mean, we're in politics. This is hardball. We got the policy we wanted. We got two Supreme Court justices with President Bush. We got a faith-based initiative that's very strong.
The president took a lot of grief for pushing that through. And it's been enormously successful. I think this fellow has showed some disloyalty to a president that -- that placed a lot of trust in him. I think that's unfortunate. And I know his circumstances are rough right now. But the bottom line is, conservatives and religious right don't give a hoot if we're called a few names. What we want is the judges. And we want to see that the sanctity of marriage is preserved. And we want to see that the life of the unborn is preserved.
BLITZER: How much terror does this put in the hearts of good Democrats, to see the effort now to -- to do what they have done so successfully, the Republicans, in 2004, 2002, 2000, generate that excitement among that religious conservative base to go out and bring 10 of their friends and make sure they all vote on November 7?
DONNA BRAZILE, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, look, there's no question that this comes on the Hill of the -- of the Foley scandal, and all the drip, drip coming out of Washington, D.C., today about scandal.
Christian conservatives, the value voters, were already, I think, disengaged from the Republican Party, long before this book came out. This book will have a chilling effect. And it could -- could perhaps dampen enthusiasm and turnout on the right.
But the one thing we have learned over the last two election cycles, that, when it comes to turnout, without these social conservatives, these Christian conservatives, there is really no one fueling the Republican turnout machine. So, this is going to have an impact on that.
BLITZER: Are you feeling that the -- getting back to this issue of -- of same-sex marriage, that that is going to generate the kind of excitement that you want?
BUCHANAN: It -- it's not just that issue, Wolf.
We see what would happen if we lost the majorities. I mean, we know that the Democrats are going to come in, who -- who have absolutely no -- support none of our positions. It's the sanctity of marriage, as well as the sanctity of life for the unborn. It's the judges that are essential.
BLITZER: The president can still veto legislation. If the Democrats have the majority, the president can...
BUCHANAN: Yes, but...
BLITZER: ... still go ahead, and do something he hasn't done yet, which is veto some legislation.
BUCHANAN: He could, but how do you get the judges without the majority? You can't. You can't get it through the Senate. We might have trouble, as it is, if we lose three or four seats. So, that is what is going to excite us.
The fact this race is so close, that they need our votes, they need every one of them, we have to put what is important to us first, our priorities, which is our beliefs. And that is why...
BLITZER: All right.
BUCHANAN: ... you're going to see them get out and vote, I believe. BLITZER: Here is probably a number that is very worrying to -- to Bay and a lot of good Republicans. Are the policies of Republican leaders -- would they move the country in the right or wrong direction? Thirty-six percent say the policies of Republican leaders would move the country in the right direction.
What about the policies of Democratic leaders, would they -- that move the country in the right or wrong direction? Fifty-three percent say it would move the direction in the right direction -- 53 percent, as opposed to 36 percent.
A lot of people are saying this, Donna. If you, the Democrats, can't win the House, at least, and maybe even the Senate this time, you might as well forget about being a Democratic Party...
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: ... because you got so much going for you right now.
BRAZILE: Even Willard Scott could not have predicted such a wonderful wind in our direction.
But the truth is, is that we still have a number of competitive races. While the political landscape now favors a generic Democratic candidate, we still have to slug it out until the end zone in all these key congressional races. So, this is a good -- a good year for Democrats. But we still have to turn out our -- our votes on Election Day.
BLITZER: That right-direction/wrong-direction is what -- what a lot of political experts say is the most important number going into a race like this.
BUCHANAN: No -- no -- there's no question. You got all these people, the ones that are left that are undecided. All these races are so close. Wolf, they show up in there, and they say, we're sick and tired of where we have been going. We want to change this. How they can do that, there is only one way, and that's vote Democratic.
BLITZER: Or stay home and not vote...
(CROSSTALK)
BUCHANAN: Or -- or stay home. Either way, if there are voters, that is going to hurt us.
But there's three weeks left. Donna and I both know that's an eternity in politics. They look much stronger right now than we would like to see them, but things can turn around.
BLITZER: Here is some other numbers from our new CNN poll.
Do you favor or oppose the war? Sixty-four percent now say they oppose the war. That's the highest number we have had since asking this question since the start of the war. How is Bush handling Iraq? Thirty-four percent approve of the way he's handling Iraq. Sixty-four percent disapprove.
Iraq still hovering over this election, Bay, probably almost like no other single issue.
BUCHANAN: There's no -- there's no question. It was the hope of the Democrats that they could naturalize Iraq. And they have been successful. Or Iraq has nationalized Iraq.
(LAUGHTER)
BUCHANAN: Whatever has happened, there's no question this is a serious issue on the minds of Americans. They are very concerned where we are. They don't see exactly how we can get out here.
But what George -- George Bush is going to be very -- he has been successful in the past. He has got three weeks to get out there...
BLITZER: All right.
BUCHANAN: ... make a case: This is terrorism.
BRAZILE: And I just want to say that I don't think the Republicans can rebound in -- in three weeks.
This -- this is going -- this is going to be an interesting race, but I don't think the president will be able to turn those numbers around. The American people are dead set against stay -- stay the course. And they're going to vote for a new direction this fall.
I also want to mention, the president did veto one bill, the stem cell bill. So...
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Correct.
BRAZILE: So, his veto pen...
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: I stand -- I stand corrected, as usual, by Donna...
BRAZILE: ... is in the drawer somewhere.
BLITZER: ... by Donna.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: It's somewhere in the drawer.
(CROSSTALK)
BUCHANAN: That's why we are going to vote -- get out there and vote again, because he vetoes the good ones.
BLITZER: Thanks very much, Donna and Bay. Always good to have you here.
Donna Brazile and Bay Buchanan, as all of our viewers know, they are part of the best political team on television.
Up next: a new population boom -- we're just hours away from having more than 300 million people here in the United States. We're going to check the story behind the statistics. That would be online.
And race in the battle for Congress, how big of an issue is it? And are people willing to talk about it? A full report from our Jeff Greenfield, that's coming up in the next hour, right here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Just before 8:00 a.m. Eastern tomorrow morning, the United States population expected to hit the 300 million mark. But will the 300 millionth person be a newborn child or an immigrant?
Our Internet reporter, Abbi Tatton, has some details on this milestone -- Abbi.
ABBI TATTON, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, here is the population clock counting up right now. You can see it changing every 11 seconds or so.
That's based on the estimates that there's one birth every seven seconds, a death every 13 seconds, and one international migrant coming to the U.S. every 31 seconds. So, that 300 millionth person could be a newborn, or it could be an immigrant.
If we look at data from the U.S. Census Bureau, it shows the leap in the foreign-born population since 1967. That's when the population of the U.S. was at 200 million, and the foreign-born population was at about 5 percent. Now, in 2006, that foreign-born population is more like 12 percent, or 34 million people.
Some demographers predicting that the 300 millionth residents will be Latino, born in Los Angeles County to Spanish-speaking parents. We won't know exactly who it will be, but that landmark set to hit tomorrow morning at 7:46 a.m. -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Thanks very much.
And for much more on the U.S. population hitting 300 million, the frightening and fascinating facts, tune in to "Melting Pot or Meltdown," a special "360," tonight with Anderson Cooper, 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
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