MSNBC Interview - Transcript

Interview

MSNBC Interview - Transcript

MSNBC INTERVIEW WITH GOVERNOR TIM KAINE (D-VA)

SUBJECTS: MINNESOTA SENATE RACE, TAX PROTESTS, GUN LAWS

INTERVIEWER: NORAH O'DONNELL

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MS. O'DONNELL: Do you think that these tea party protests are a test of power for the Republican Party?

GOV. KAINE: Well, I think, you know, it may be something fun to do. I'm not sure it's going to change folks' mind. The latest poll that I've seen, 70 percent of the American public have great confidence in the president's ability to do the right thing around the economy and as of April 1, just two weeks ago, 95 percent of working Americans just got a tax cut. So maybe there will be a sign out there, tax cut with representation, that's what most Americans received in the last two weeks.

MS. O'DONNELL: But if they're successful today in organizing, turning out thousands of people by using sort of a Web site, grassroots, social networking the way, in many ways, President Obama did during his campaign, is that a threat to the Democrats if the RNC can pull this off?

GOV. KAINE: Well, you know, again, I would say the American public is getting asked virtually every day what they think of the president on the economy and to have in a tough economy, 71 percent of the American public according to the most recent Gallup Poll saying they have great confidence in the president is, frankly, almost unheard of.

The fact that folks are disgruntled and grumpy because the economy is tough, you would expect that. I think it's almost hard to believe that 70 percent of the American public is supporting the president and that shows that he's doing the right thing on the economy. Sure, there's going to be some complainers, but again, I would suspect most of the folks at these rallies today -- they just got a tax cut on April 1st, the president's campaign promise that he followed through on to make sure that working Americans got a reduction.

MS. O'DONNELL: Let's turn now to what's going on in Minnesota.

GOV. KAINE: Right.

MS. O'DONNELL: The Democratic National Committee, of course, which you chair, has just released a new ad in Minnesota, recognizing Al Franken as the winner in that Senate race and the DNC now, of course, calling on Norm Coleman to concede, saying, "enough is enough" in this ad.

Are you saying that Senator Coleman does not have the right to bring his challenge on appeal to the state supreme court there?

GOV. KAINE: He certainly has a legal right. We wouldn't contest that. But you know, let's just look at what's happened. Norm Coleman lost the count on Election Day. He lost the recount. Now, he's lost the legal battle over the recount in a stinging opinion; it wasn't a narrow loss. The court rejected every single claim that he proposed, said that the election was completed in a full and fair way and what we're seeing, Norah, is an effort, I think, by the Republican Senate Campaign Committee in DC to keep this thing going, to raise funds and to block the seating of another Democratic Senator that will support President Obama's agenda. The party of no has become the party of no way; we're not letting another Democrat sit down as long as we can possibly avoid it.

MS. O'DONNELL: One of your Democratic colleagues, the Governor of Pennsylvania, Governor Ed Rendell, of course, is today going to ask Congress to re-enact a ban on the assault weapons. Do you support Congress re-enacting the assault weapons ban?

GOV. KAINE: In the past as I've seen this, I think, when the assault weapons ban was going to expire, I definitely thought that Congress should not let it expire. If there was questions about the categories of weapons that applied to, that ought to be debated, but to let it expire to allow these weapons that really have no purpose other than to harm people is not a good idea.

MS. O'DONNELL: Well, the reason I'm pressing on you, Governor, of course, is because President Obama and his attorney general do not seem to want to put the political capital behind trying to get Congress to re-enact this gun show loophole. You're the chairman of the DNC. It sounds like the Democratic Party doesn't have the appetite to really push stricter gun control.

GOV. KAINE: Well, Norah, I think there are issues that you just, you know, phase and figure out what's most important. The president right now is focused on, I think, what Americans want him to focus on, which is getting the economy fixed. And so back to the top of the interview, we've got 70 percent of the American public even in a tough time are saying this president is doing the right thing in fixing the economy and that really needs to be the focus, and I completely agree with the president in that.

That is job number one for this president and for all elected officials right now. We need to reward the people who are trying to do it and challenge those who aren't coming up with any ideas to get in the game and let's unify to get our economy moving in a positive direction.

MS. O'DONNELL: Democratic Governor Tim Kaine and Chairman of the DNC. Thanks so much for joining us.

GOV. KAINE: You bet, Norah. Good to be with you.

END.

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