MTP Transcript for Nov. 5

SEN. DOLE: We’ll only end up having to go back if...

SEN. SCHUMER: Let me say a couple of things first. First, you know, the Republican response is what my good friend Elizabeth said, it’s sort of knee-capping, name-calling. It works, it has worked in the past when people are happy with the policy. Right now, the American people, as you said, not just Democrats, independents, Republicans, are very unhappy what’s happening in Iraq. You spo—had Perle over there. The only people who seem to be thinking it’s going well are the president and his coterie of advisers.

Now we Democrats are unified on Iraq. We had in the Senate the Reid-Levin Resolution, which calls for this: First, stop policing a civil war. Iraq has devolved into a civil war between Shiites and Sunnis. That’s not what we bargained for. Second, make 2007 a year of transition where we redeploy our troops, pulling a good number of them out of harm’s way. Some would stay in Iraq, some would be nearby. And focus on four things.

MR. RUSSERT: Is this a Democratic...

SEN. SCHUMER: Wait, I just want to...

SEN. DOLE: (Unintelligible).

MR. RUSSERT: Is this a Democratic plan?

SEN. SCHUMER: Yes, it is, it is, it is four things: It is focus on counterterrorism, force protection, logistics and training. That is our plan, that is what we’ll push to do should we get the power in the Senate. And 39 of the 44 Democrats in the Senate voted for it.

SEN. DOLE: (Unintelligible).

MR. RUSSERT: Mr. Emanuel, let me ask you a question. If, in fact, the Democrats take control of the House, what will happen on Iraq? Will it be full speed ahead or will the Democrats try to cut funding off of the war?

REP. EMANUEL: No, no. There’ll be demands for accountability and oversight.

One of the things—let me say one thing. From that comment, which—wait...

SEN. DOLE: (Unintelligible)...said he’d cut all funds.

REP. EMANUEL: But wait, Elizabeth, Elizabeth, just wait one second. Just let me get a chance to get a word in. We’ve had slogans, and a long list of slogans from “mission accomplished” to “the terrorists are in the last throes” to “the fact is that we’ve turned the corner” to now, in fact, that we are “victorious.” And the fact is, Iraq needs a new direction, and the Democrats in Congress are going to be clear that we need a policy that would be very clear, from oversight...

MR. RUSSERT: Well, but, but, that’s what I’m trying to find out. What is—here’s what the chairman...

REP. EMANUEL: Here, let me give you...

MR. RUSSERT: Here’s what the chairman of your party said, Howard Dean, your very good friend, I know. He said, “We will promise you that if you elect a majority in the House and the Senate, we will not permit Iran to be a nuclear power, we will make a deal with China to get nuclear weapons out of North Korea, we will catch, capture Osama bin Laden or kill him.” The Democrats can promise that if they take control of Congress?

REP. EMANUEL: Here, you—I’m going to focus on what you said about...

MR. RUSSERT: But I’m asking a serious question.

REP. EMANUEL: I und...

MR. RUSSERT: The party chairman said you can do all those things. Can you?

REP. EMANUEL: Here’s what we’re going to do: We’re not going to divert our resources from focusing on capturing Osama bin Laden five years after 9/11; we are going to work with our allies on making sure that North Korea, when we issue a red line, doesn’t cross it without any sense of consequences; and we are going to work also at making sure that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon. So let me say one thing clear about the principles we’re going to have. Whether Senator Biden’s idea on Iraq—which I think is a strong idea—Senator Levin’s program, Congressman Jack Murtha, and Congressman Ike Skelton, there are five basic principles that hold Democrats together on our approach to Iraq: First, regional cooperation; second, reconciliation among the parties; third, reconstruction of the economy; fourth, responsibility for results; and fifth is redeployment from Iraq. Those are the five principles.  All Democrats say we have to change the policy. These guys have—the Republicans and the president—and I’ll say this, the president’s got what he needed for this war totally from Congress, except for the one thing that the Republicans have denied him, and that’s oversight and accountability.

MR. RUSSERT: Would the Democrats consider cutting off funding for the war?

SEN. DOLE: (Unintelligible)...

REP. EMANUEL: No, we’re not going to hurt our troops like that. We’re going to make sure we have a new policy, and when the Baker...

MR. RUSSERT: OK, OK.

REP. EMANUEL: And when the Baker and Lee Hamilton approach comes, our approach will not be what the vice president said, steam—full steam ahead.  We’re going to listen to that approach, and work in a bipartisan fashion to solve the worst national security challenge America’s faced in over two generations, senator.

SEN. DOLE: Well, if the, if the Democrats were to take over the Congress, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee has said that he would cut the funding for the war. He said he would cut the funding...

MR. RUSSERT: He didn’t say he would, he would consider.

SEN. DOLE: Well, that’s—all right, consider.

MR. RUSSERT: And Congressman McGovern...

SEN. DOLE: He’s also said he doesn’t...

MR. RUSSERT: ...of Massachusetts has a...

SEN. DOLE: He’s also said he doesn’t...

MR. RUSSERT: ...a resolution with...(unintelligible)...

SEN. DOLE: He’s also said he doesn’t know a single tax cut that he would support.

MR. RUSSERT: But let me, let me ask you, let me ask you, let me ask you about a comment that President Bush made. President Bush said that both the vice president and the secretary of defense are doing “fantastic jobs,” and will be there until the end of his term. Tomorrow, a joint editorial from the Army Times, the Air Force Times, the Navy Times, the Marine Corps Times, this is what they say: “All along, Rumsfeld has assured us that things are well in hand. Now, the president says he’ll stick with Rumsfeld for the balance of his term in the White house. This is a mistake. ... When the nation’s current military leaders start to break publicly with their defense secretary, then it is clear that he is losing control of the institution he ostensibly leads. ... Rumsfeld has lost credibility with the uniformed leadership, with the troops, with Congress and with the public at large. His strategy has failed, and his ability to lead is compromised. And although the blame for our failures in Iraq rests with the secretary, it will be the troops who bear its brunt. This is not about the midterm elections. Regardless of which party wins Nov. 7, the time has come, Mr. President, to face the hard bruising truth: Donald Rumsfeld must go.”

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