MSNBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript
Interview
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Now, joining me now is South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn, the majority whip.
Congressman, great to have you on tonight.
You know, you're smiling. You know I'm correct.
REP. JAMES CLYBURN (D), SOUTH CAROLINA: I like your style, Ed.
SCHULTZ: Well, you know, look, we're about ready to take some prisoners on this. Or should I say take no prisoners? We're getting down to the 11th hour on this.
And Congressman, I want to ask you, because you've been around for several decades and then some, have you ever seen progressive groups go after leadership like this before? And what kind of effect do you think it's going to have?
CLYBURN: Well, you know, it's all about style, Ed. I've been in a lot of meetings with Senator Reid, and I can tell you he favors a public option very much.
And I think that when you're in the process of negotiating, you tend to use a style to negotiate that you don't want to embarrass anybody or insult anybody. And so I think that Harry is in a negotiating mode. But as far as substance, he is exactly where you and I are on the public option. And I do believe he will get us to where we want to be.
SCHULTZ: OK.
Now, over on the House side, if you and Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer weren't being strong on public option, they'd be running ads against you. Do you think the progressive organizations that are doing this kind of stuff and targeting leadership, do you think it could backfire, or is this really just part of the game?
CLYBURN: Well, I think that there's a circumstance under which it could backfire. But in the climate that we're currently in, you just talked about a poll that shows some other things I think is very interesting.
One of them is the support for the public option is now up to 57 percent. And that is up from 52 percent just a few weeks ago. And I think that the momentum is building for the public option. And, but for that 15 percent of Democrats who have a problem with style, support for the public option I think would be up around 62 percent.
So, the public option support is exactly where we want it to be. And I think that when these numbers sink in, this evening and tomorrow, it's going to be a much better climate here on Capitol Hill for us getting this public option done.
SCHULTZ: Does it hit the gas pedal to make things move a little bit faster? I mean, the American people are speaking. The numbers you put out were the "Washington Post/"ABC poll out just tonight. You're right, 57 percent, up five percent since the town hall crazies had it going back in August.
So, the question begs, what's the holdup at this point?
CLYBURN: Well, there is no holdup. We're going through the legislative process which is slow and deliberate.
We want to do this in such a way that the American people can stay engaged with us as we go. We don't want anybody to be hasty here.
People kept talking all back in August about us moving too fast. And now some people think we're moving too slow. I think to go slow and deliberate, keeping the American people engaged, informing all of our membership what we are doing, making sure we're on pace to get this thing posted on the Internet 72 hours before we start voting, all of that is factored in to how we're doing this.
SCHULTZ: Well, you've got a clear signal now.
Congressman, good to have you with us tonight. I appreciate your time.
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