MSNBC "Hardball with Chris Matthews" - Transcript: Planned Parenthood

Interview

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

TODD: All right. Senator Cantwell, I`m going to leave it there.
Senator, thanks for joining us on HARDBALL.

Now I want to turn to the other side of the aisle, Senator John Hoeven  of North Dakota. He`s a practicing Roman Catholic.

Let me start with the same question I asked Senator Cantwell. What  does this visit mean to you? What does this new pope mean to you?

SEN. JOHN HOEVEN (R), NORTH DAKOTA: Well, Chuck, it`s historic. I  think it`s inspirational. And we welcome him not only to Congress, but to  our country.

And, again, I hope that people will use this as an opportunity to  really come together on -- in many different ways. But I think it`s  inspirational. And I`m very much looking forward to it.

TODD: Well, he`s going to have -- you heard Senator Cantwell. And I  think Democrats hope that the message of climate change is something that -  - that Republicans embrace more.
  
His message on climate change, what do you make of it? And has it  made you take a second look at some of his thoughts and when it comes to  maybe your faith and the environment?

HOEVEN: Well, I think we have differences of opinion in regard to  climate change.

The real issue, though, is what you do about not only producing energy  in this country, but better environmental stewardship. And I work all the  time on encouraging and finding ways to advance the investments that will  help us deploy the new technologies that not only produce more energy, but  do it with better environmental stewardship.

TODD: Do you believe his -- his message on income inequality, is that  something that you think, you know what, maybe we ought to address this  differently? Does that have an impact?

We know, on social issues, in the past, many Republicans have wanted  the pope to have an impact. What about on some of these economic issues?

HOEVEN: Right.

Chuck, I think that`s a really good point. And that`s why I say I  hope it helps bring people together. I think we want to -- we all want to  help our fellow man. The issue is the underlying philosophy on how best to  do it. And, again, I think that`s where we can come together with, I hope,  good ideas that we can reach some consensus on and do what will help  advance some of the things that the American people want us to address in a  way that`s productive.

TODD: All right.

We`re going to have this moment of comedy on Thursday, where everybody  is going to come together. And I think it`s going to be one of those  nonpartisan or bipartisan moments that makes us all feel good, makes you  guys in Congress feel good.

He leaves, and you guys are going to be fighting about whether to keep  the government open. It`s pretty clear the Senate is going to send a  message that they`re not going to be able to shut down, defund Planned  Parenthood, the way it`s going to work.

What is your message to House Republicans once you send over legislation that won`t have defunding of Planned Parenthood? What is your message to them? Should they keep fighting this? Is it worth shutting the 
government down over?
  
HOEVEN: Chuck, in fairness, I think you have to look at what we`re  trying to do.

The legislation that we`re advancing provides the funding for women`s  health care. It`s just that it provides it to community health centers,  rather than to Planned Parenthood. And I think that`s what`s getting lost  in this debate.

And I hope that people will focus on it and see that we`re providing  the full amount of resources to health centers for women`s health. So,  we`re making sure that women`s health is addressed. And I think that needs  to be the focus, rather than jumping right by that and somehow saying, it`s  shutting down government.

TODD: Well, I understand that, but it`s not going to get through the  Senate. I mean, Mitch McConnell has basically already said that. I know  you guys are going to have the vote, do your best to get it.

But, if this fight over -- is this fight over Planned Parenthood worth  shutting down the government over?

HOEVEN: I think that this is a debate that`s going to continue.

And I think if we look at the underlying effort, and that is that we  are funding women`s health, then, I think, long-term, we can win on this on  the merits.

TODD: All right, you said long-term, but is it worth having this  shutdown showdown?

HOEVEN: You know, again, I don`t think that we`re going to get into a  government shutdown.
But I still think we have to focus on the matter at hand. And that is  not -- making sure that we`re not having government funding of abortion,  but still funding women`s health.

TODD: All right. Senator Hoeven, I will leave it there. I think I  got you. I think you`re saying it`s not worth shutting the government down  over. Is that a fair characterization?
  
HOEVEN: Well, yes, we will -- we are trying to make sure the  government is funded, but that the government is not funding abortion.

TODD: Fair enough.

Senator Hoeven, and, before that, Senator Cantwell, thank you both for  coming on today. Appreciate it.

HOEVEN: Thanks, Chuck.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source