CNN Judy Woodruff's Inside Politics - Transcript

JUDY WOODRUFF'S INSIDE POLITICS 15:30 March 11, 2004 Thursday
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CNN

SHOW: JUDY WOODRUFF'S INSIDE POLITICS 15:30

March 11, 2004 Thursday

HEADLINE: Kerry on Capitol Hill; Interview With Congressman Steny Hoyer, Congressman Roy Blunt

GUESTS: Donna Brazile, Bay Buchanan, Steny Hoyer, Roy Blunt

BYLINE: Candy Crowley, Suzanne Malveaux, William Schneider, Bruce Morton, Bob Franken, Joe Johns

HIGHLIGHT:

John Kerry's meetings today on Capitol Hill were punctuated by a strong defense of his comments yesterday about Republican campaign attacks.; Interview with Congressman Steny Hoyer, Congressman Roy Blunt.

BODY:

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

CROWLEY: More now on Senator Kerry's offhand remarks yesterday in which he described Republicans as "crooked." We're joined by House Republican whip Roy Blunt and House Democratic whip Steny Hoyer.

Gentlemen, thank you so much for being there. And together even.

I want to start out with you, Congressman Hoyer, and just ask you what you think of this "crooked" remark. I'm assuming you think the Republicans have overblown it.

REP. STENY HOYER (D), MINORITY WHIP: Well, I think that Adam Clymer of The New York Times, when referring to George Bush's remark about him, would probably say, that happens. Clearly, he was referring to a negative campaign which is beginning now.

It is interesting that previous presidents haven't mentioned their opponents until far into the race. But I think they're very worried about John Kerry, as they out ought to be. And the negative campaigning is starting tonight, paid where foe the Bush-Cheney campaign, and they want to divert attention from the real issues that America's confronting.

CROWLEY: Congressman Blunt, I don't think I even have to ask you a question-go.

REP. ROY BLUNT ®, MAJORITY WHIP: It's hard to think you'd have to ask a question on that. It's unfortunate that, whether that's a private comment or a public comment, that that's the way that John Kerry wants to characterize those on the other side.

You know, Steny and I and our colleagues debate every day. I hope this can be a debate about the issues. I hope we get away from the name-calling.

I hope if we say something unfortunately that we intended to be a private comment that turns out to be public that the right kind of thing is done, that somebody says "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that," or "Here's what I meant to say." "If anybody thought I meant more than that, they misunderstand what I'm saying," and move on.

This can be a campaign, should be a campaign about the issues. We're more than willing to talk about our record in the House, and the president's record. And we're also willing to talk about John Kerry's record. Every time we do that, suddenly there's a discussion that somehow your record is either-it's unpatriotic to talk about your record, or your record should be off limits. I don't think anybody who has a voting record believes that or thinks that's reasonable.

CROWLEY: Congressman Hoyer, let me get you back in on this, only because, you know, I think when you listen to the stump speeches and when you see the ads, this is very heated on both sides very early, would you not agree?

HOYER: I think that's the case. And I think it is because Americans want change. It's clearly voted for change. It's clear the polls reflecting they believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.

They want to change that. They believe that jobs are a critical problem in this country. They believe the education system is not being invested in as it should be. And they believe their health care costs are rising very quickly. And they're concerned about all of those real issues.

I agree with Roy Blunt. This election ought to be about the issues. This election ought to be about the future.

And I think what John Kerry represents is a fairness, a commitment to families, a love of country, a courage that he's displayed in the past, and a courage that he's displayed throughout his public career. So I think his record certainly is going to be an issue.

CROWLEY: Let me...

HOYER: And George Bush's record is going to be an issue. But what is really going to be an issue is which candidate's going to lead America in the direction it wants to go. I think that's what they're going to make their decision on.

CROWLEY: Generally, Congressman Blunt, let me just ask you, there you are side by side, you look like you don't hate each other. What are the prospects that in this election year, which is already boiling at the national level, that you all can get anything done up there? Or is it just going to be a lot of parrying?

BLUNT: Well, we're going to work hard to get things done. We need to get our work done, keep the government moving forward. We've got a lot of issues out there.

I just had a coalition meeting on the Charitable Giving Act that we passed out of the House last year. I think it was over 400 "yes" votes. The Senate was 95-5. It's being held up by leader Daschle in the Senate because he doesn't want to go to conference on issues that don't have anything to do with this bill.

This is a huge bill; there are many other examples of that. I think we can get those things done. Our budget's going to lay out the blueprint for that, and we need to move forward and have a debate on the issues.

Certainly, the things that Steny mentioned. Congressman Hoyer-we are good friends and we work closely together. We don't agree a lot of the time. But the kind of campaign we need to have is one on the issues.

For months now, the country's been told-and you've seen this because you've been covering this primary-that all the problems that Steny mentioned are out there, it's time for the president to come back and make the case of how far we've moved in both securing our future economically and from terrorism. He's going to make that case well, and we're prepared to make it with him.

CROWLEY: Congressman Hoyer...

HOYER: We certainly haven't done much to date. We named a couple (UNINTELLIGIBLE); we've done some other things. But frankly, we find the Republican Party in gridlock and deep division.

They were supposed to report out the budget document today. They adjourned the hearing. Tom DeLay has now taken them back in. Maybe he'll get them back together. But they're deeply divided.

CROWLEY: But aren't you proving my point, Congressman Hoyer, that you all-you know, I think the public sits out there and says, good grief, you know, these people are going to sit up there and blame each other for not moving anything. Is there anything important to the country that you all think you can get done this year?

HOYER: Candy, I would hope so. Because there's some important things we need to do. But they're not being brought forward on the agenda. And it is because the Republican Party's deeply divided.

Let me give you an example. The highway bill, we need to reauthorize the highway bill. It's a jobs bill. It can create a lot of jobs.

We want to see this country invest in jobs. We were supposed to pass it by October 1. Republicans delayed it because they didn't have agreement between the White House, Senate, and themselves. Not between Democrats. So what you've seen is delaying occurring from divisions within the Republican Party.

And Roy, with all due respect, I want to speak to Tom Daschle. The reason, Roy, as you well know, that Tom Daschle is holding up that conference is because we were shut out of the Medicare conference, where Chairman Dingle and Chairman Rangel, two ranking members on the committees, weren't even invited to the conference.

BLUNT: Reny, I just don't think the American people...

HOYER: Nor was Tom Daschle. That's what we're talking about.

BLUNT: I don't think the American people understand or appreciate that. That had nothing to do with this important bill.

We are going to get work done. We had a good year last year. We had a better year on the House, obviously, in getting our agenda moved forward than they had in the Senate. And we're going to work hard to do that again and challenge our friends on the other side of the building to work with us and get things done for the country.

CROWLEY: Congressmen, thank you both so much. We're going to have you back in a couple of weeks and see what you've accomplished.

House Republican whip Roy Blunt, Democratic whip Steny Hoyer, thank you both so much.

HOYER: Thanks, Candy.

END