MSNBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript
Interview
MSNBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript: Interview With Rep. Chris Van Hollen
Interviewer: Ed Schultz
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MR. SCHULTZ: In my playbook tonight, primary numbers. The race for 2010 is really already on. The GOP has already put their cards on the table. They're going to run by attacking Democrats as socialists. A new poll this week showed a majority of voters think President Obama is doing a good job as president, but they're still split over how he's handling spending and the deficit.
I think the president is doing the right thing on the economy. The numbers are going to come around. But unemployment right now is high; you can't deny it. Credit is still tight.
And in two key races this year, there are signs of a backlash, a backlash against Democrats. In the state of Virginia, the governor's race, former Clinton guru Terry McAuliffe lost the primary last night. The state senator who beat him, Creigh Deeds, is trailing his Republican challenger. And in New Jersey's governor race, the Republican, Chris Christie, is leading Democratic incumbent and former Senator Jon Corzine by 10 points.
Joining me now is Congressman Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the DCCC.
Chris, good to have you with us tonight.
REP. VAN HOLLEN: Good to be with you, Ed.
MR. SCHULTZ: Are these scary trends, or is this no big deal for the Democrats? What do you think?
REP. VAN HOLLEN: They are not scary trends. In the one congressional race that we had, the special election up in New York 20, where the key issue was about the president's economic recovery package, Democrat Scott Murphy won that special election just a few weeks ago. In fact, he came out of nowhere, politically speaking, to beat a very entrenched Republican; in fact, the Republican leader in the New York Assembly. He closed 21 points in eight weeks.
The whole topic of that campaign was whether or not the candidates had supported the president's economic recovery package. Republicans said no. Democrats said yes. And in that district, the Republicans had over a 48,000 Republican registration advantage. So --
MR. SCHULTZ: So Congressman, would you go so far as to say the Democrats are still on a roll?
REP. VAN HOLLEN: Well, listen, we know what the history is. And I think it's very important that people understand that a new president's party does tend to lose seats in the midterm. In fact, the average loss of seats since Abraham Lincoln was president is 30 seats. So we're out to beat that history.
MR. SCHULTZ: Okay.
REP. VAN HOLLEN: We know that that history is tough for us, but I think that Eric Cantor should play back that tape of Karl Rove just a few years ago predicting permanent Republican majorities.
MR. SCHULTZ: Well, I'm going to play this one for you. Mr. Cantor had this to say about the upcoming elections. Here it is.
He says, "I really believe that we've got a shot at taking back the House, because you see what's going on here with this unfettered ability of the administration and Nancy Pelosi to run this Congress." He goes on to say, "The American people see that this agenda is way far out of the mainstream. They want a check and a balance on the power. And I think, at the end of the day, that's what rules come November 2010."
What's your response to that, Chris?
REP. VAN HOLLEN: Well, I can tell you, Ed, the Republicans are not going to take back the Congress. And they're not going to take it back because the American people don't want to turn back the clock and repeat eight years of the failed policies we saw under George Bush and the last Congress.
And I want to ask Eric Cantor what he thinks is so radical about providing consumers protection against credit card abuses. I want to know what's so radical about providing children with health care under the children's health. And I want to know what's so radical about launching a major economic recovery package and at the same time introducing a budget that cuts the deficit in half. So --
MR. SCHULTZ: Chris Van Hollen, Congressman, we're short on time. I appreciate your time tonight. I'd ask the same questions, but I don't think he'd want to do an interview with me. (Laughs.)
REP. VAN HOLLEN: Well, these guys are status quo.
MR. SCHULTZ: Good to have you with us. I appreciate it.
REP. VAN HOLLEN: Good to be with you, Ed.
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