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CNN Sunday Morning

Bush Administration Not Endorsing Carter Trip to Cuba

Aired May 12, 2002 - 09:09   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We want to see what the Bush Administration thinks about the Carter trip to Cuba. For that we turn to Kelly Wallace. Well, Kelly, obviously the White House not endorsing this trip strongly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, Kyra. Not endorsing the trip, but not standing in the way, either. The administration sort of giving the OK, the sort of technical OK, for former president Jimmy Carter to travel to Cuba even though it's not strongly approving of the visit. As you and John were saying, the administration takes a very tough stance when it comes to Communist Cuba, Kyra.

Just this week, we had a state department official putting out there that the Cubans were developing weapons of mass destruction, namely biological weapons, something Cuba strongly denies. And the administration is saying it hopes that President Carter uses this visit to push for democratic reforms and change in the country, because the administration says that decades-old trade embargo will remain in place until democratic change comes to Cuba. Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right -- and I know the president hitting the road again tomorrow, heading to Chicago, let's talk about this welfare trip.

WALLACE: Exactly. Kyra, you know, tomorrow he goes to Chicago. It will be his fourth road trip in a week. The president traveling to the Midwest again. Tomorrow he'll be talking about welfare reform. Last week he talked about education. And, also, welfare reform. Stopped in Michigan, Ohio, and also Wisconsin.

You might ask why's the president traveling so much -- well, for an administration that says it doesn't really rely on the polls, it is watching the polls and some polls are showing that Americans seem to be very concerned right now about some of those traditional issues. The economy, education, health care. And not as concerned right now about terrorism and international policy issues, and so when the president is squared up against the Democrats on some of these traditional issues, he does OK, but when Republicans go against Democrats on these issues -- the economy, health care -- they don't do so well.

So, the president is out there, talking about these issues, to help Republicans. Kyra, you have elections in November; the president very much wanting Republicans to maintain control of the House and win control of the Senate. Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. White House correspondent Kelly Wallace. Always a pleasure. Thanks, Kelly.

WALLACE: Sure.

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