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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Vermont Senator Set to Tip the Balance of Power in Washington

Aired May 23, 2001 - 20:00   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.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight: the die is apparently cast, but Vermont Senator James Jeffords is not yet ready to announce his departure from the Republican Party. For eager Democrats, it's a Yogi Berra moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: It ain't over 'til it's over. Maybe Yogi would say, "it don't happen 'til it happens."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: As Republicans fight a holding action, we'll go live to Capitol Hill and the White House.

Fifty years ago today, China made its rule over Tibet official. President Bush marked the anniversary by meeting with Tibet's exiled spiritual leader. In a rare interview with the Dalai Lama, I'll discuss Tibet, and the state of U.S.-China relations.

Also, bogged down in a messy, and very public, divorce, New York's mayor Rudy Giuliani wants the news media to divorce themselves from his personal life. We'll dish out the latest.

Good evening. I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting tonight from Washington.

There are 100 members of the U.S. Senate. For most of today, nearly everyone in Washington was focusing on only one of them. He's a senator many people probably never even heard of, the moderate Republican from Vermont Jim Jeffords.

Jeffords tomorrow is widely expected to leave the Republican Party. In a 50/50 Senate, that means the Democrats would take over the majority and all the political power that accompanies it. It could be a nightmare for President Bush, and that's our top story.

Let's go live to our congressional correspondent Jonathan Karl for the latest on this potential political bombshell -- Jon.

JONATHAN KARL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, with Senator Jeffords announcement less than 14 hours away, Republicans are making one last- ditch effort to get him to stay in their party.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL (voice-over): Senator Jim Jeffords attracted the political paparazzi, but has the cameras flashed, Vermont's Republican was mum about whether he would stay a Republican. After first saying he would announce his intention shortly, Jeffords put off his statement for a day, saying he'd make it in his home state on Thursday.

SEN. JAMES JEFFORDS (R), VERMONT: Up to Vermont, and, back with my people, and, I'm looking forward to conversing with them, and then making my announcement.

KARL: Several Senate sources in both parties say Jeffords has told his staff and many of his Senate colleagues that his decision will be to leave the Republican Party to become an independent, putting the Democratic Party in control of the Senate.

But Jeffords' decision to delay came after a long list of Republicans, lead by conservatives John Warner and Pete Domenici, and moderates Arlen Specter and Olympia Snowe, personally appealed to him to give them time to change his mind.

Republicans are, in the words of one G.O.P. aide, "willing to do whatever it takes" to convince Jeffords to stay, but sources close to Jeffords say his mind is made up, a possibility that excites Democrats.

LIEBERMAN: This is historic. Secondly, it obviously makes Tom Daschle the majority leader. It makes Democrats chairmen of committees, if it happens. And gives us the opportunity to set the agenda.

And overall, I hope it brings President Bush and the administration closer to the center to negotiate with us and create a bipartisan government.

KARL: Democrat John Edwards said of the expected change: "the president will have to deal with us. He's had to deal with us a little up to now, but he'll have to deal with us a whole lot more."

KARL: Republicans were eager to talk about the passage of the $1.35 trillion tax cut, which Jeffords voted for, but they were reluctant to talk before the cameras about Jeffords.

SEN. TRENT LOTT (R), MAJORITY LEADER: You decide which questions to ask and we decide which questions to answer.

KARL: But off camera, Senator Lott said of Jeffords' decision: "it's not final until it's final."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KARL: Shortly before he headed to Vermont, Senator Jeffords told CNN that he assured his Republican colleagues he would "think about things" before making his announcement tomorrow morning, but asked if there was still a chance he could still change his mind, he said, "I don't think so." -- Wolf BLITZER: Jon, among Republicans, the blame game is already beginning. Who is going to take the hit for this?

KARL: Well, there is the blame game. There is talk that the White House is to blame for the way they treated Jeffords; other talk that Majority Leader Trent Lott mistreated Jeffords.

But one thing that's been interesting here, Wolf, is that Karen Hughes, senior White House adviser, did have a conference call with press secretaries for the leadership in both the Senate and the House, trying to make sure this blame game doesn't get any further, getting everybody on board saying hey, we are all happy family here.

But clearly, the blame game is under way and you can expect to hear a lot more about that in the coming days.

BLITZER: Jon Karl on Capitol Hill, thank you very much.

President Bush, who met with Jeffords yesterday, hopes the senator will still remain a Republican, but his spokesman says the president will respect any decision Jeffords eventually makes. Let's go live now to CNN White House correspondent Major Garrett.

How are they reacting over there? How nervous are they, Major?

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, they are really three levels of concern. The first one you have already hit upon. The White House wants to avoid a blame game, urging Republicans all over Capitol Hill -- let's move beyond this, we've got a lot of work to do, the blame game will only hurt you and eventually the president.

Secondarily, they are worried about parts of the Bush agenda that Congress hasn't really wrestled with -- I'll name two: faith-based initiatives. The president is traveling to Cleveland tomorrow to highlight that. That's going to be in trouble under a Democratically controlled Senate.

Also, the energy plan. Only last week, Vice President Cheney called up the majority leader, Trent Lott and said, let's move that energy package, right away. You can't make that call anymore now if Senator Jeffords does, as expected, switch parties.

Lastly, the White House knows this week, of all weeks was the worst time for Senator Jeffords to switch. Why? Because the White House only today racked up 2 huge bipartisan victories, in the House on education and the Senate on a tax cut. They'll get almost no public credit for that, because all the focus will be on the expected party switch of Senator Jeffords -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Major, amid all of these major political developments, the president found time today to telephone the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat. What do we know about that call?

GARRETT: We know, Lou -- Wolf, forgive me -- that the calls went well, the president asked a lot of questions, of both sides, asking what are you prepared to do. Can you get your arms around the violence? Are you really committed to carrying out some of the recommendations of the Mitchell Report?

The answers we are told were generally favorable, but the White House expects no immediate breakthroughs -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Major Garret at the White House, thank you very much.

In other news, as the over-50 age group grows larger, so does the income gap. For many Americans, the retirement years will be truly golden, but for millions of others, the future may be bleak.

More now from CNN medical correspondent Rea Blakey.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REA BLAKEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At age 61, Genevieve Gonzales has high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, heart problems, and no health insurance. She earns $5.15 an hour.

GENEVIEVE GONZALEZ: If I get sick, I cannot work, I cannot do anything, it would be very devastating for me.

BLAKEY: Mrs. Gonzales typifies a full 25 percent of 50 to 64- year-olds. For many of them, the golden years will be tarnished. A new AARP report on economic security of Americans age 50 and beyond paints a portrait of joy, and pain, the divide between the haves and have-nots is ever-widening.

JOHN ROTHER, AARP: People with family incomes under $19,000 are generally in trouble, they do not have savings, do not have a pension, many do not have health insurance. They are not prepared to retire.

BLAKEY: The number of 50 to 64-year-olds without health insurance continues to climb from 11 percent in 1988 to 14 percent in 2000. More than two-thirds who live in poverty do not receive Medicaid protection. Meanwhile, participation in employer-sponsored pension plans continues to stagnate, prompting Congress to call for pension reform.

SEN. CHARLES GRASSLEY (R), IOWA: Getting small business to set up pension systems, because very few small businesses do, and increasing the IRA from a $2,000 to $5,000 limit.

BLAKEY (on camera): Overall, the vast majority of Americans age 50 and older are striking gold in their golden years. In 1998, Americans in the 50-plus age group controlled two-thirds of all the household wealth in the nation.

Rea Blakey, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Exiled from his homeland, Tibet's spiritual leader is welcomed at the White House. I'll discuss human rights and U.S.-China relations in a rare interview with the Dalai Lama. And, dirty laundry waves from the flagpole of the New York mayor's mansion. Rudy Giuliani says the media hung it there. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. China today marked 50 years of formal rule over the Himalayan region of Tibet, which was secured when the Chinese army overcame local forces, and President Bush made a point of holding a formal White House meeting with Tibet's exiled spiritual and political leader.

Afterward, I was given a rare opportunity to interview the Dalai Lama. I began by asking him how that first meeting with President Bush went.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DALAI LAMA, RELIGIOUS LEADER: Oh, very good. Excellent.

BLITZER: Why did it -- what was so excellent about it?

DALAI LAMA: As soon as two faces appear, or meet, he (UNINTELLIGIBLE) just two old friends, the reunion, that kind of, I think, atmosphere or feeling. So I very much appreciate his sort of I think the human warmth. So, that's -- I really impressed.

BLITZER: Is there a change in, any significant change in U.S. policy toward China and Tibet that you noticed from the Clinton administration to the Bush administration?

DALAI LAMA: Oh, I don't think there's any change of the policy. But I think the way to approach, maybe some I think the differences. But these, I think the -- too early to say definitely.

Of course, no doubt (UNINTELLIGIBLE) president (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the center of stage. I think both have, I think great enthusiasm to make more effective contribution regarding, of course, the world peace and then regarding the Tibet also.

BLITZER: What do you specifically want right now from the United States?

DALAI LAMA: I'm not seeking independence. I'm seeking genuine self-rule. And my approach is actually mutually beneficial.

And if the Chinese government would use common sense, I think, properly, they can see that my proposal is a mutually agreeable solution, and also I think best to achieve genuine stability and unity of the People's Republic of China.

BLITZER: Genuine autonomy for Tibet but not an independent state...

DALAI LAMA: That's right. That's right. BLITZER: What about the tensions, the recent tensions that have escalated between Washington and Beijing? The EP-3 surveillance plane on Hainan Island, some of the other tensions. When there are these tensions between the United States and China, does that help the people of Tibet or hurt the people of Tibet?

DALAI LAMA: After all, both sides want to have closer relations. But this -- I think basically is both -- both nations want to have closer relations. So I think these eventually, I think, will -- will (UNINTELLIGIBLE), I think.

So I told the president that China is a great nation, a very important sort of nation, and important (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the world. Therefore, China should not isolate. China must be in the mainstream of the world community.

BLITZER: As you know, there is a big debate here in the United States on whether the U.S. should support permanent normal trade relations with China, part of China's admittance into the World Trade Organization. Given your concern over human rights in Tibet, do you think the United States should grant these trade benefits to China?

DALAI LAMA: I think long run, I think that's better as far as, I think, their joining the World Trade Organization. I fully support.

BLITZER: Is the plight of the people of Tibet right now better or worse than it was a year or two ago?

DALAI LAMA: This, I think, a little complex. The -- in some fields, the opportunity in making money, some individual Tibetans I think in some cases better opportunity, more freedom of movement. But then, in other fields -- the preservation of Tibetan culture and Tibetan study -- of course, no question about it Tibetans are liking the freedom of movement. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) I think they even, as they try to gain more self-rule, the Chinese government always (UNINTELLIGIBLE) independent movement.

So therefore, the political field and also the culture field, the Chinese put a lot of restrictions, a lot of restrictions, a lot of active suppression. So the situation is worsening.

BLITZER: Your Holiness, we only have a few seconds left. Do you expect ever in your lifetime to return to Tibet?

DALAI LAMA: Oh, yes.

BLITZER: When?

DALAI LAMA: When I don't know. I think the -- now, look at Tibet's situation -- locally, almost (UNINTELLIGIBLE). But the Tibet issue is (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Usually, I describe a new guest without proper invitation. So the Tibet issue is very much (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in China proper.

Now China proper, no matter how powerful a nation, still part of the world. So China sooner or later has to go according to the global trend. So, that is democracy, openness, religious freedom, and human rights, and taking care of the environment. So therefore, judging from a wider angle, a wider, wider angle, Tibet issue is very much hopeful. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) People's Republic of China is in the process of changing. Therefore, I'm optimistic.

BLITZER: Thank you very much for joining us.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The Big Apple's media is in a big frenzy over the mayor's personal affairs. Does the public really want to know? We'll look at the controversy. And it's not fuel for vegetarians, but a vegetable is involved in this new fill-up option. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

The mayor, the wife, the girlfriend and now the judge. The soap opera-style breakup of Rudy Giuliani's marriage is the hot topic of newspapers and talk shows in New York.

Earlier this week, a judge ruled Mayor Giuliani's girlfriend has to stay out of the mayor's mansion. But what does the average New Yorker think of all of this? CNN's Brian Palmer has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The media now has an absolute feeding frenzy on this. They are like vultures and buzzards perched there at Gracie Mansion, perched there at City Hall.

BRIAN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The marital meltdown between New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Donna Hanover has taken on a life of its own in the media, yet some New Yorkers say they don't care.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It doesn't affect me at all. It's not my marriage.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's sort of in my face, so I have to look at it, but I don't like the idea. It's his personal, private business.

PALMER: But plenty are still buying the newspapers, watching the TV news broadcasts, and listening to the radio shows that cover it incessantly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's shameful, but I still pick up the newspapers and read it.

PALMER: The mayor blames the media for driving the story.

MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI (R), NEW YORK: Mostly, it's all of you that are driving it, not the people involved in it, because you want to exaggerate it and you want to take it out of context and you want to do the best you can to keep it going, so you can sell newspapers and get more time on television.

PALMER: But the mayor's own lawyer has spilled some very private details of the couples' married life to reporters.

RAOUL FELDER, GIULIANI'S DIVORCE ATTORNEY: Her agenda is to embarrass the mayor and embarrass his friends, to make life difficult, to denigrate the mayor of the city of New York, and to help her career.

PALMER: Columnists Jack Newfield and Andrea Peyser share office space at "The New York Post," but they don't share the same opinion about who's to blame. Newfield raps the mayor; Peyser sides with Rudy. But both say the media is just doing their job.

ANDREA PEYSER, "NEW YORK POST" COLUMNIST: I wish I had a nickel for all the stories that people on the street tell you they're not interested in that they really in fact are. They say, I don't care, I'm not interested, but this is what I think about it. Everybody has an opinion in this, whether you're for Rudy, Donna, Judy or the dog.

JACK NEWFIELD, "NEW YORK POST" COLUMNIST: Nobody that I know in the media really knows what the line is. I think we're groping, to use a bad expression, and exploring it, you know, story by story, day by day.

PALMER: As the divorce saga continues, so will the daily exploration for that fine line between public and private -- and perhaps, the daily crossing of that line.

Brian Palmer, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Some tense moments for passengers today aboard an American Airlines jet. The right main landing gear collapsed on the jet as it landed at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. None of the 91 people on the flight from Charlotte, North Carolina was injured. The landing gear broke off and landed just off the runway.

The U.S. is applauding calls from India to revive peace talks with Pakistan on Kashmir. Indian officials issued the invitation today while announcing the end of a cease-fire with militants in the region. Pakistan immediately accepted the offer. The two countries have been battling for control of neighboring Kashmir for more than a half-century. The talks would be the first in almost two years.

Tonight on "The Leading Edge," environmentally conscious drivers now have another option at the gas pump -- recycled vegetable oil. Biodiesel fuel went on sale today at select gas stations in California. Details now from CNN's Rusty Dornin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When Abigail Curless said "fill 'er up" at this gas station, she got just what she wanted: a tank full of processed soybean oil, otherwise known as biodiesel.

ABIGAIL CURLESS, BIODIESEL CUSTOMER: We just purchased this Volkswagen Golf that gets 54 miles to the gallon and for the sole reason of using biodiesel.

DORNIN: This week, Olympian commercial fueling in San Francisco became the first to open fuel pumps with 100 percent processed soybean oil as an alternative fuel. It can be used in any diesel engine.

RUSTY FIRENZE, OLYMPIAN COMMERCIAL FUELING: It takes full advantage of the present fueling infrastructure we have in place. You don't have to add new tanks or new dispensers.

DORNIN: Out of the fat fryer and into the tank: recycled cooking oil, another source for biodiesel. In Nevada this week, a station will now pump a mixture of 20 percent recycled oil and 80 percent diesel. Clean burning: environmentalists see it as an alternative with an extra boost.

FIRENZE: For consumers, it's beneficial to the U.S. economy and to the environment.

DORNIN: For consumers, the price tag may be hefty. Pure biodiesel runs about $3 a gallon.

(on camera): For some, the desire to be clean and green is enough to drive them to it.

Rusty Dornin, CNN, San Francisco.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Up next, I'll open our mailbag. Lots of reaction to Senator Jon Corzine's proposal to ban using cell phones while driving. One of our viewers says he's seen the future, and it's in Singapore. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

Time now to open our mailbag. We were flooded with reaction to the proposal to ban talking on cell phones while driving.

Kathy from Connecticut writes:

"Cell phones must be banned. I have a two hour commute and my greatest threat is watching people talking while driving as I avoid getting hit or hitting them. It scares me a lot."

But Kris from Seattle writes:

"If we ban cell phones, we must as well ban children and pets in the car. They are way more distracting then cell phones."

And Eric writes from Singapore, where using cell phones while driving is already illegal: "a first offense is a mandatory six-month jail sentence, a fine and a suspension of the driver's license."

Remember, I want to hear from you. Please e-mail me at wolf@cnn.com. And you can read my daily online column and sign up for my e-mail previewing our nightly programs by going to our WOLF BLITZER REPORTS Web site, cnn.com/wolf.

Please stay with CNN throughout the night. Tom Brokaw is Larry King's guest at the top of the hour. Up next, Greta Van Susteren.

Tomorrow night, we'll have the latest on Senator Jim Jeffords expected split from the Republican Party. Until then, thanks very much for watching.

I'm Wolf Blitzer on Capitol Hill. "THE POINT" with Greta Van Susteren begins right now.

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