CNN "CNN Newsroom" - Transcript: Interview with Congressman James Clyburn

Interview

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CABRERA: OK, Jeremy Diamond, thank you. Keep us posted.

Joining us now is Democratic representative and majority whip, James Clyburn, of South Carolina.

Thanks so much for being with us.

REP. JAMES CLYBURN (D-SC): Thank you very much for having me.

CABRERA: Congressman Clyburn, as much as I know you are celebrating the victory of your friend and fellow Democrat, President-elect Joe Biden, this wasn't a landslide. Despite 237,000 Americans now dead in the pandemic, despite a major economic crisis right now, despite the racial reckoning this country has faced in the past several months, and Trump's, you know, past comments about S-hole countries and good people on both sides, about 70 million Americans still voted for President Trump.

What does that tell you about where America is right now?

CLYBURN: Well, thank you very much for having me. You know, it tells me what I've always known. I've lived my entire life here in South Carolina. In fact, every address I've ever had has been within the Sixth Congressional District that I proudly represent. There's one thing that I know, and that is this country keeps battling with notions of race. And that is a big problem in the country. Many of us have been trying to get this issue addressed for years.

Most people in the country would rather pretend it doesn't exist. When you have a president who continues to say there is no such thing as systematic racism and a president who continues to insult people racially, as you've just noted, and people believe this president. And too many people do. So that's what we're wrestling with. And I know that to be a problem, and I'm doing everything I can to help the country get beyond it.

But he did the same thing with this pandemic. We know people are dying and he keeps saying, a cure is right around the corner. We're going to have a vaccine even before the election. The election has come and it's gone and we still don't have a vaccine. But you'd be surprised at how many people still believe that we're going to have a vaccine before the election because that's what Trump said.

That's the problem that we've got. And it is a problem we're going to have to deal with going forward and I hope Joe Biden can help restore the kind of integrity that we have always known in the presidency. And that's why I was so proud to see George W. Bush making a statement he made today. He's always been a stand-up kind of guy and I'm always pleased to call him a buddy. I never called him a good friend because we really aren't close friends but he's been a buddy throughout the time that I've known him.

[16:10:02]

CABRERA: You heard Jeremy Diamond's report just before us about where the president's head is today, not letting go of his power, still clinging to this idea that, you know, perhaps election isn't over. He does have 73 days left in office. What do you think he'll do?

CLYBURN: I don't know what he's going to do. Nobody has been able to predict this president. But one thing we can always rest assured of, whatever he does or says, it will be all about him. He will never say anything or do anything to benefit this country. This country has been more than good to him and his family. And they continue to treat this country and its people with disdain.

Don't you know what African-Americans have given to this country? How many people, black soldiers coming back from World War II couldn't even get a loan, a veterans administration loan, couldn't even get an education, and still go along to love for this country? And really I think about Doc Rivers, the basketball coach, almost daily. We talked about how much we have loved this country and the country refuses to love us back.

And the reason the country refuses to love us back because there are so many Donald Trumps who stand up and represent the -- what I call just the bad side of being in this country. They're not patriots. They're sunshine patriots, if anything, and some are soldiers. We've had some real soldiers, people of color who have given so much to this country and still we have people in leadership who pretend that they don't exist.

I told someone earlier today, Isaac Woodard was an African-American from South Carolina, coming back home from World War II, having just won -- helped the country win that fight and stopped at a bus station in Batesburg, South Carolina, and a deputy sheriff with his uniform on punched his eyes out. And he died a blind man. And Truman, Harry Truman, when he saw that, said we cannot live like this. And that's what forced him to integrate the armed services by executive order.

And I remind people that the president can do a lot with an executive order. And I think Joe Biden realizes that. Integrate the armed services by executive order and please remember the Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order. That's what freed the slaves in the District of Columbia. And until the 13th Amendment came around in 1869, all we had was the Emancipation Proclamation.

So I think Joe Biden is going to give the country leadership in this country that needs to be given. And as he said last night, African- Americans in this country have always had his back and he has said he will have our backs going into the future.

CABRERA: Quickly, if I will, if you may, I do want to play some sound that I thought was really striking yesterday as people were reacting to the news that Joe Biden had won this election. I don't know if you caught this moment with Van Jones on our air but listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: If you're Muslim in this country, you don't have to worry if the president doesn't want you here. If you're an immigrant, you don't have to worry if the president's going to be happy to have babies snatched away, send Dreamers back for no reason.

It's vindication for a lot of people who have really suffered. You know, I can't breathe. You know that wasn't just George Floyd. That was a lot of people that felt they couldn't breathe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Congressman, you have fought your whole life to make America more equal, more fair, more whole. What's your reaction to what we just heard there?

CLYBURN: Well, my reaction is much like Van Jones. I know Van. And I did not see that report, but it has been shared with me and I appreciate his emotion. And I suspect that I have gotten to the point in my life where I really, really try to control my emotions a little bit these days, but I feel what he feels. I've always felt it. I love this country. When I was a kid growing up in little town something South Carolina

not far from here, we used to stand up every morning and say the pledge. I was proud to say the pledge. I was proud to close that pledge with liberty and justice for all. Even though I knew we did not have liberty and justice for all in this country.

[16:15:06]

But I also am proud of the fact that we are on a journey toward a more perfect union. And thank God that the people elected Joe Biden so we can step back from the brink and keep moving forward toward that goal of a more perfect union.

Donald Trump did everything he could to undercut that movement and to turn the clock back on the progress in this country and the people have now spoken and to the tune of over four million more voted for Joe than voted for him.

CABRERA: Congressman James Clyburn, thank you very much for joining us.

CLYBURN: Thank you so much for having me.

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