CNN Lou Dobbs Tonight - Transcript

CNN

SHOW: LOU DOBBS TONIGHT 18:00

HEADLINE: Interview With Senator Carl Levin; U.S. Civilian Beheaded in Iraq

GUESTS: John Murtha, Carl Levin, Patty Murray

BYLINE: Jamie McIntyre, John King, David Ensor, Lou Dobbs, Louise Schiavone, Peter Viles, Kitty Pilgrim

HIGHLIGHT:
An American civilian is beheaded in Iraq by radical Islamists associated with al Qaeda. Airbus, a consortium backed by huge European government subsidies, is trying to take over the global aerospace market. Two-thirds of U.S. college graduates have unpaid loans.

BODY:
VILES: A hot issue in Washington. Senator Patty Murray says Airbus has so much government support it is not even close to a fair fight.

SEN. PATTY MURRAY, (D), WASHINGTON: That's not competition. That is subsidized slaughter, and we have to wake up before it's too late for America's aerospace companies and workers.

VILES: The chairman of Airbus North America tells CNN, quote, the subsidy claim is a bogeyman, saying Airbus receives no government subsidies in Europe, only loans at market rate that it repays. Airbus plays the Washington game to, it likes to support 100,000 American job, but uses a multiplier formula to get to the numbers because the direct U.S. employment is less than 1,000 jobs. And its French, Spanish, German parent also plays the influence game. Its American subsidiary, EADS North America recently hired the Washington lobbying firm, Quinn Gillespie, the firm founded by national committee chairman Ed Gillespie.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VILES: For the record, he is not lobbying during the campaign which means he personally is not going to pat for this French, German, Spanish company. He does, however, remain a partner in the firm that does go to bat for that company-Lou.

DOBBS: So Gillespie, while on leave to drive the Republican National Committee, would be participating in the profits through the partnership in representing the Airbus?

VILES: He's still a partner, and the value of the firm would be increasing during this time. He's not taking a salary and not picking up the phone. But when the campaign is over, they do have this new client.

DOBBS: And speaking of that new client, Pete thanks. Peter Viles.

The battle between Airbus and Boeing, my next guest says it is subsidized slaughter. My guest is Senator Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington state and joins us tonight from Washington, D.C.

Senator, good to have you with us.

MURRAY: Thank you, Lou.

DOBBS: When you say subsidized slaughter, Airbus was quick to tell us they receive no direct moneys but only market rate loans from European governments.

How do you respond to that?

MURRAY: We know Airbus receives tremendous subsidies. They receive launch, development subsidies, facility subsides, supplier subsidies. Unparallel here for a private company that produces airplanes, Boeing, we just simply can't compete. You know, we have lost 700,000 jobs in aerospace industry in this country. If we just close our eyes, pretend it's not happening, we're going to lose the entire aerospace industry in this country.

DOBBS: Why in the world are we putting up with it if it is unfair trade competition, senator?

MURRAY: That's a question I've been asking a long time. It is absolutely clear to me that we have to take this on directly. We need to call the Europeans on it. We need to make a trade case, and we need to develop a plan in this country in how we're going to keep the aerospace industry. You know, Airbus has done that.

DOBBS: Did you say a plan, senator?

We should just leave it to...

MURRAY: A plan.

DOBBS: ... free market vicissitudes?

MURRAY: I think, if we sit back and watch our company that plays by the rules and goes for profit competing against a European Union and their subsidies, we are at risk of losing of not only the jobs in aerospace industry, but our economic security and our real security that depends on that in this country.

DOBBS: Our national security.

And let me ask you, point blank, have you talked to the U.S. trade representative?

Have you said why don't we bring a case against the European Union and the WTO, and particularly, ironically as we're sitting here under imposition from the World Trade Organization by the European Union?

MURRAY: I have. I'm going to continue to raise the alarm because I really believe our future in the aerospace industry is at stake. And we can't afford to sit back quietly and watch it go.

DOBBS: What are we going to do about it?

Is there legislation?

Is there any approach here that would be helpful?

MURRAY: There's a number of things. All of us need to start calling on this administration to take a trade action against the European subsidies Airbus has. I think we also need to take some of the Aerospace Commission recommendations and put together a joint Senate/House Committee to look at what we need to be doing here in this country to assure that we have an aerospace industry for the future.

DOBBS: Senator, just quickly, why in the world don't you folks take the fast track authority from the executive branch and take responsibility in the Senate and Congress and start going after the issue?

MURRAY: I am going after the issue.

DOBBS: I'm sorry. I meant broadly.

MURRAY: Broadly why doesn't Congress?

Well, I think it is up to the administration to make the trade case, and that's what needs to happen.

DOBBS: Thanks for being here tonight to make your case. We appreciate it. Senator Patty Murray.

MURRAY: You bet. Thank you.