Transcript CNN "The Situation Room"
THE SITUATION ROOM
Congressman Steny Hoyer is joining us now live from Capitol Hill. Congressman, thanks very much for coming in.
REP. STENY HOYER (D-MD), WHIP: You bet, Wolf. Glad to be with you.
BLITZER: I'll read to you what Nancy Pelosi wrote in this letter to John Murtha. "Your strong voice for national security, the war on terror and Iraq provides genuine leadership for our party and I count on you to continue to lead on these vital issues. For this and all you have done for Democrats in the past and especially this last year, I am pleased to support your candidacy for majority leader for the 110th Congress."
This has got to hurt. You've been a loyal deputy to Nancy Pelosi these past several years. How do you feel about this?
HOYER: Well, you know, Nancy is a very close friend of Jack's and he was her campaign manager when she was elected Whip and she gave me a heads up on this, said she was going to do this so this did not come as a surprise and very frankly I joined her in saying that I expect Jack Murtha to continue to be a leader on this very, very important issue of Iraq in the future. But I am going to be the majority leader. She has not been campaigning and my view is that no votes have been changed at this point in time, we're in good shape and we're going to win.
BLITZER: But you know, you say that, but there have been others would-be majority leaders in the Democratic and the Republican side who go into a secret vote like this thinking they're going to win. But a lot of these members when they're casting their secret ballot, they can do whatever they want.
HOYER: You're absolutely right on that, Wolf. We've all been there and done that so we'll have to see, but right now I have well over a majority of the sitting members and well over a majority of the new members saying they're going to vote for me. So yes, you're right, we could see on that, but I think that they will. I think they're honest and straightforward people and they have made an assessment of who would be the best majority leader. They've looked at the record of Nancy Pelosi and I creating the most unified caucus we've had in a half a century, working together well in partnership to create consensus and create a forward progress for our party. So I think that they're going to look at that success and say they want it continued and that is why I think I'm going to be elected majority leader.
BLITZER: I've spoken with several of your Democratic colleagues in the House over the past couple of days as this Steny Hoyer/John Murtha fight was developing.
And several of your supporters, many of them very well known were extremely disappointed that Nancy Pelosi decided to go with Murtha and create this rift within the Democratic Party at this very sensitive moment right now. They were hoping that she would talk Murtha out of running. I'm sure you've heard that from several of your colleagues, as well?
HOYER: Well I've heard that, but the important thing is when we get through this race that we bring the party together and frankly I don't think this is going to divide the party. There are two candidates for majority leader. Both think they can do a job.
But I think the party is going to come together, make a selection and understand full well that the American people voted for change. They voted to take us in a new direction, Wolf. And I think the party was united in that message and is going to be united in delivering that message. So I think we're going to be a united party.
BLITZER: Here is what was written in the "New Republic" magazine almost a year ago quoting a former House Democratic leadership aide, referring to Nancy Pelosi. "She seems to thrive on conflict. When she wins a leadership race, she never stops running against that person. She beat Steny, but she has never stopped punishing him for running in the first place."
I suppose you remember that article in the "New Republic?"
HOYER: Now that you remind me, I remember, yes. Look. Nancy and I work together very cooperatively. Nancy has said that, she said it on television just the other day, she works well with me. She works well with Jack. I think she is going to work well with me in the future as she will work well with Jack. And so I don't think that's going to be a problem.
I think much is made of the conflict that frankly both Nancy and I say does not exist. Are the differences of opinion from time to time? Certainly, there are. But Nancy had differences with Dick Gephardt. She had a close, very effective working relationship with him and we'll continue that. We'll continue it because Nancy and I are both focused on our Democratic message, our Democratic agenda and having success for our country and for working people in this country. BLITZER: I was going to say, Congressman, the big difference, at least on the surface between you and John Murtha is over Iraq. He has taken a strong stance the United States has to redeploy its troops very quickly. You've been much more I guess of a hard-liner on this issue, taking a more moderate stance if you will saying the United States can't precipitously withdraw.
HOYER: And nobody is suggest at this time a precipitous withdrawal, I think. We are suggesting a phased redeployment.
It's important, Wolf, for you to know and for your viewers to know, that Jack Murtha and I, along with the Democratic leadership in the House and Senate signed three letters to the president of the United States. One, the end of July, one in September and one in October saying first of all, your policy is not working in Iraq.
We need to change course in Iraq. Suggesting a phased redeployment, suggesting implementation of constitutional change, which would guarantee to the sectarian factions equal treatment and a piece of the pie if you will, urging the president to urge Iraqi government to disarm militia which are exacerbating the situation on the ground.
So Jack Murtha and I both signed that letter. Carl Levin, Senator Levin has now said that he wants to have a resolution, a four to six-month phased redeployment, not necessarily meaning everybody out at that point in time. But the message we have been sending is that we need to make it clear to the Iraqi government that the situation that current exists is not sustainable, that we have to have a change, that we're going to redeploy our troops, we're going to get them out of harm's way. So I think there is a greater unity than you might think.
BLITZER: I interviewed John Murtha here in THE SITUATION ROOM last Thursday. Here in part is how he made his case why he should be the majority leader. Listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JOHN MURTHA (D), PENNSYLVANIA: I've been involved in these jobs and involved in foreign policy, involved in defense, involved in synthetic fuels and alternative energy. I've been involved in healthcare for years and years. And I think those are the issues I've heard about the most and I think I could bring that kind of expertise to the leadership. And I can mold some of the more conservative members with the leadership. So working with Nancy Pelosi, I think we make a good team.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: All right, just wrap it up. Tell our viewers why you think you would be a better majority leader, very quickly, than John Murtha.
HOYER: Very quickly. The majority of the blue dogs are conservative Democrats, overwhelming majority are supporting me. The new Democrats are supporting me and frankly many of the liberals and progressives, a large number are supporting me as well.
Why? Because I've been able to bring together our caucus, create unity, working with Nancy Pelosi and that is why I think my colleagues are supporting me for this position of majority leader.
BLITZER: We'll be watching every step of the way. Steny Hoyer, Democrat of Maryland, thanks very much for coming in.
HOYER: Thanks, Wolf.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0611/13/sitroom.01.html