MSNBC "Andrea Mitchell Reports" - Transcript

Interview

MSNBC "Andrea Mitchell Reports" - Transcript

MSNBC "Andrea Mitchell Reports" Interview With Senator Jack Reed (D-RI)

Subject: Sonia Sotomayor and North Korean Leadership

Interviewer: Andrea Mitchell

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MS. MITCHELL: But first, let's begin with Democratic Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island. The senator serves on the Banking Committee along with the Appropriations and Armed Services Committees. So a lot of issues to address today.

First, General Motors. Thanks very much for joining us, Senator.

SEN. REED: Thank you.

MS. MITCHELL: What is the impact on the taxpayers, first and foremost, as well as the other stakeholders in GM?

SEN. REED: Well, there's a huge potential impact. If there's not a(n) effective way to reorganize General Motors, the closing of those facilities, the liquidation of the company, not only the immediate General Motors workers, but suppliers, the whole economy would suffer grieviously.

So I think there is a strong commitment to re-form and allow General Motors to operate in a reorganized fashion. And that's going to require federal support. And that support, I believe, will be forthcoming.

MS. MITCHELL: When we talk about the taxpayers, we also have to talk about the future of the company and the suppliers, everyone down the chain. Do you think that this is the only option, this kind of restructing, to save jobs, not only obviously in the Michigan and related states, but throughout the country as dealers and suppliers are affected?

SEN. REED: I think this is probably the best opportunity to preserve jobs as best we can, not just in the manufacturing plants themselves and design facilities or the company, but suppliers, dealers, et cetera. But these are going to require -- this whole approach requires very difficult choices.

They're going to have to change the way they do business. This is not just more money to keep doing what they've been doing. This is a -- gives them a chance to reorient their entire business, become much more competitive in terms of cost, in terms of quality, in terms of consumer choice. And this is something that has to be done.

The alternative, which was contemplated just a few months ago, simply letting these companies -- or this company, particularly, GM -- go out of business, would have, I think, catastrophic effects on our overall employment, not just in the car sector, but throughout the economy.

MS. MITCHELL: So let me ask you to put your national security/Armed Services hat on. North Korea. There are reports that South Korea is moving a destroyer into waters near the north, North Korea's positioned artillary guns. We don't have evidence, hard evidence yet, do we, as to what's happening in Yongbyon. But there were some signs from satellite imagery yesterday that there could be activity at that partially destroyed nuclear facility and that they could be restarting it. What do you think is going on there?

SEN. REED: Well, first they're in the midst of potential change in the regime. The dear leader, the leader, is ill -- that's his term, "dear leader" -- is ill. He's trying to groom a young son to take over.

So there's a transition going on. That makes it very difficult to understand completely who is forcing these issues in terms of the underground test, the missile firings, the -- apparently, as you point out -- the restarting of the nuclear facilities at Yongbyon.

It's not an encouraging sign. They seem to be taking some very, very serious steps, and we have to, I think, first respond very forcefully as an international community. And one of the key countries is China. We have to work very closely shoulder-to-shoulder with the U.N. Strong sanctions, but step up our vigilence.

South Korea has joined our efforts to interdict ships that may be carrying nuclear material out of North Korea. So all of these steps have to be taken. But it's a very delicate and very dangerous situation because it's a weak country on the verge of a leadership change.

MS. MITCHELL: Do we think that this is all about proliferation, that this -- that the real threat here is not that they'll launch a missile with a warhead, but that they'll actually do something in terms of trying to, as they have in the past, sell their equipment, sell their nuclear material --

SEN. REED: I --

MS. MITCHELL: -- and that this is where we have to really be on guard?

SEN. REED: I think that's the most significant threat at the moment. If they were to conduct a very blatant attack with a missile, the retaliation would be overwhelming and swift. The fear is that they would -- as you've indicated in the past -- sell technology, do it surreptitiously, do it in a clandestine fashion. That could include nuclear material, that could include technology that they have for their nuclear process or missile technology.

All of that creates a dangerous situation. And that's why it's encouraging that the South Koreans have formally joined us, as well as other nations, to, if we can, sort of interdict any potential exodus of nuclear material or technology from North Korea.

MS. MITCHELL: Now, while I've got you here, of course, the big story domestically of the week was the Supreme Court nomination of Sonia Sotomayor. There are some concerns now from pro-choice groups, abortion rights groups, that she is not a reliable vote.

She doesn't have much of a track record. She's only tangentially ruled in her past 11 years on abortion issues, never directly on a woman's right to an abortion. Do you expect that there is going to be -- you know, there will be -- already are interests groups on both sides going after her? And what do you expect will happen in the Senate?

SEN. REED: Well, I believe that the judge, first, is superbly qualified. She's an extraordinary jurist. She's experienced as a prosector, a state prosecturo, as a civil litigator, as a district judge, as a trial judge.

I think she's going to have to respond to a range of questions involving issues about choice, issues about presidential power, issue about the role of Congress. So there's not one issue, I think. And she's going to be -- and she should be -- asked to state her views. I don't think, as is the custom, she will specifically opine on cases. But she certainly will be required, and will give, I think, an indication of how she would deal with these issues, what she emphasizes.

I do think she's someone who has a great respect for the Constitution not just as a -- sort of a document, but as a living guide to the conduct of Americans and the ideals embedded in the Constitution.

MS. MITCHELL: Do you think that abortion rights advocates are correct that they would've -- clearly would've preferred someone with a clearer record and someone who has been more reliably on their side?

SEN. REED: I think, again, this -- the issue has to -- in terms of someone going on the Court has to be the totality of their experience and their views and their philosophy and their approach to the Constitution. Justice Souter came to the Court without, I think, a significant number of rulings on many issues, including abortion rights. But, you know, I think his overall approach, his overall thoughtfulness, his dedication to the principles and spirit of the Constitution was such that he leaves this Court with a distinguished record.

So I think the best thing to do is to allow the process to unfold, to ask questions. And I suspect judges -- the judge will accept those questions and answer, I think, with great clarity.

MS. MITCHELL: Jack Reed, thank you very much.

SEN. REED: Thank you.

MS. MITCHELL: Good to see you. Thanks for joining us today.

END.

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