Washington Week Show - #4521
Washington Week Show - WW4521 - "Show Open"
Hosted by Gwen Ifill, with guests Dan Balz, Alexis Simendinger, Andrea Seabrook, Jeanne Cummings. Composite (unclean) footage with Washington Week title and text: John "Jack" Murtha (D-PA) says, "This is a flawed policy wrapped in an illusion." U.S. Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) says, "Democrats, we've heard again and again, they want an exit strategy, thinking cut and run an exit strategy. What we're for is a victory strategy." U.S. soldiers marching in Iraq. U.S. President George W. Bush with Asian officials. Capitol Dome at dusk. U.S. Senators on Senate floor. U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE) says, "What I think all Democrats and Republicans have finally decided to do is tell us the plan, Stan. Tell us, Mr. President, what's the plan?" Members on House floor. Samuel Alito walking into an office; filled out application form. Women wearing pink shirts saying "Save Roe" (Roe v. Wade), putting on a demonstration. Journalist Bob Woodward walking outside, talking to someone off-camera.
Washington Week Show - WW4521 - "Partisan Fighting"
Show host Gwen Ifill talks about the disagreements between Congress and the White House, and the contrast between U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and Congressman Jack Murtha (D-PA). Clip from Vice Presidential debate in 2004-- Dick Cheney says, "One of my strongest allies in Congress when I was Secretary of Defense was Jack Murtha, Democrat, who was chairman of the Defense Appropriation Sub-Committee. We used to be able to do more together on a bipartisan basis than seems possible these days." Ifill says that was then. Now Vice-President Cheney was saying about the war: “The President and I cannot prevent certain politicians from losing their memory or their backbone. But we're not going to sit by and let them re-write history." Congressman Murtha responds, "I like guys who have never been there (Vietnam) to criticize us who've been there. I like that. I like guys who got five deferments and never been there and send people to war and then don't like to hear suggestions about what need to be done."
Washington Week Show - WW4521 - "Partisan Fighting"
Show host Gwen Ifill asks Dan Balz of the Washington Post why things are getting so nasty over the Iraq War. Balz says the reason is because the stakes are so high in determining who gets to determine the policy in Iraq and in what direction the war will go. Congressman Jack Murtha, a decorated war veteran, has gone on record saying that the mission has been accomplished and the troops need to be pulled out. Democrats have forced a resolution to create a flexible withdrawal time-frame and transition of power; Republicans killed the resolution and put forth their own that was the same in every way except providing a timetable. Ifill notes the timing could not be worse: U.S. President George W. Bush is on a trip to Asia to focus on other issues while his war supporters back home seem to be fading. Ifill asks Alexis Simendinger of the National Journal what the White House response to this is. Simendinger says the White House is following the President’s strategy of “clear, hold, and build." Clear out your enemies, hold your ground, and build from there using all the tactics of a political campaign.
Washington Week Show - WW4521 - "Partisan Fighting"
Jeanne Cummings of the Wall Street Journal agrees the White House has been using campaign-era tactics to sway public opinion on the war but the situation is different. Citizens are more aware, and the facts surrounding the war is reflected in public opinion polls. Alexis Simendinger of the National Journal says other tactics have been considered but these orders are coming from the President who has had enough of the attacks upon him. The White House knows nothing they say or do will make the war popular but they will settle for buying more time and keeping the Republican base on the President’s side. Andrea Seabrook of National Public Radio is amazed how many Republicans jumped on the comments made by Congressman Jack Murtha (D-PA), asks Dan Balz of the Washington Post if this shows just how weak the Republican Party has become due to the Iraq War. Balz agrees that the GOP has been weakened, given the President’s low approval rating and the majority of the public believing the President deliberately misled them on the reasons to go to war. These factors combine to weaken the party and embolden Democrats in the push to get the debate out into the open.
Washington Week Show - WW4521 - "Partisan Fighting"
Show host Gwen Ifill clarifies the terms of the Iraq War debate have changed. It is no longer about Iraqi elections or transition of power, but whether the United States should be involved in Iraq at all. Dan Balz of the Washington Post remarks how scared the harshest war critics were to even mention an exit strategy last summer, but now prominent Democrats are renouncing the 2002 resolution on the war. Democrats still don’t have a unified message but many are talking about an exit strategy in one form or another. Jeanne Cummings of the Wall Street Journal believes the Democrats have successfully changed the subject of the debate; now the question is whether they need one unifying message regarding an exit strategy policy. Alexis Simendinger of the National Journal thinks that if the public is actually coming around to backing the Democrats, it may behoove Dems to have a unifying policy or message. Looking ahead to the 2008 Presidential elections, prospective Democratic candidates will have their own versions of what should be done in Iraq, the only common theme being the mistake of the going to war in the first place. Ifill wonders if the lack of the unity will be something Republicans will come back around to attack, even though they are currently the ones fighting a defensive battle. Balz talks about the current hostile atmosphere in Congress where Republicans decided to call the bluff of the Democrats and brought Congressman Jack Murtha (D-PA) resolution up for a vote. This gave Republicans at least a short term tactical advantage, as few Democrats were willing to put their name to a definitive withdrawal time-frame.
Washington Week Show - WW4521 - "Tax and Spending Cuts"
Show host Gwen Ifill turns to President Bush’s domestic agenda, where the goals of Republicans are usually simple: cut taxes and spending. Moderate Republicans have made this more difficult. Andrea Seabrook of National Public Radio details what it looks like when Republicans go to war with itself. The House bill cuts spending by $50 billion, while the Senate bill cuts spending by $35 billion. To get moderate House Republicans to vote for cuts, concession after concession was made, and the bill still only passed by two votes. On the Senate side, the main problem with cutting taxes and spending is what is cut and who benefits the most. Cutting school lunches, food stamps, and Medicaid does not mix well with moderates when the taxes that cut are dividend and capital gains, which benefit wealthy people. Jeanne Cummings of the Wall Street Journal asks about the leadership from both chambers of the Congress. Seabrook says that both leaders, Bill Frist and Tom Delay, are weakened, which does not help to gain a consensus. Furthermore, some Republicans are eyeing those leadership seats so they don’t necessarily want to see the current leaders to succeed.
Washington Week Show - WW4521 - "Republican Infighting"
Alexis Simendinger of the National Journal acknowledges what is going on with the Republican leadership in Congress, asks what the Democratic leadership outlook is like. Andrea Seabrook of National Public Radio says the roles have been reversed, so despite Democrats usually having issues with party unity, they have been unified more so than the Republicans. Dan Balz of the Washington Post knows the GOP is fractured right now, but what, if any, effort is being made to regroup and reunify the party. Seabrook says Republicans know they need new leadership in January. There is plenty of work to be done to rehabilitate their image, in particular the issues with party leadership and ethics. Show host Gwen Ifill provides a humorous anecdote to underscore the point of infighting within the Republicans in Congress.
Washington Week Show - WW4521 - "Alito Nomination"
Show host Gwen Ifill turns to Supreme Court Justice nominee Samuel Alito and his preparations for hearings to be held in January. Trouble may arise, as evidence surfaced that Alito applied for a job in the Reagan era Justice Department and is quoted saying he did not believe the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion. Footage of Justice Clarence Thomas speaking at the University of Alabama School of Law, where he states the issue of abortion has become a central legal issue holding the judicial system hostage. Ifill asks Jeanne Cummings of the Wall Street Journal if Justice Thomas is right. Cummings says he is and he isn’t. Judicial appointments today are run through the abortion lens, but this is not some new event where politics are all of a sudden buffeting judicial appointments. Appointments are political because politicians confirm them. Political issues have always played a role; it is just that the issues change over time. Ifill mentions Alito’s personal views on abortion, wonders why that does not bother the Judiciary Committee’s only female member, Dianne Feinstein. Cummings says that is because Feinstein and Alito have spoken and Senator Feinstein believes him that he does not hold that position any longer. Cummings says that at the time the essay was written, it was apparent that Samuel Alito wanted ingratiate and boost himself for a promotion in the Reagan Administration. In this case, he was not careful enough and oversold himself.
Washington Week Show - WW4521 - "Alito Nomination"
Alexis Simendinger of the National Journal asks Jeanne Cummings of the Wall Street Journal why political ads regarding the Samuel Alito nomination have begun playing so early. Cummings believes liberals already have enough evidence to oppose the nomination and see no reason to hold back; they want to frame an argument against Samuel Alito before the holiday season begins. Andrea Seabrook of National Public Radio asks if this kind of open mudslinging against a Supreme Court nominee is new and if it keeps good candidates from the bench. Cummings says public activism is new, but not mudslinging; using Justice John Roberts as an example, she disputes the idea of mudslinging keeping away qualified bench candidates. Show host Gwen Ifill points out Justice Roberts also had to answer for past statements regarding abortion. Cummings says the Justice Roberts example is different in that he could always say that his writings were not personal views, but part of the views advocated by the Reagan administration.
Washington Week Show - WW4521 - "Reporting Ethics"
Show host Gwen Ifill turns to a story about CIA informant Valerie Plame and knowledge that reporter Bob Woodward had been tipped off but did not share it with his employer, The Washington Post. This prompted an apology from Woodward. Bob Woodward walking outside.
Washington Week Show - WW4521 - "Reporting Ethics"
Show host Gwen Ifill asks what the CIA leak exposing CIA agent Valerie Plame means for the way reporters gather and disseminate information, and protect their sources. Dan Balz of the Washington Post discusses the reaction at the Post and with reporter Bob Woodward. He calls Woodward a friend but admits he did the wrong thing in not letting the Post editor know soon enough, thus creating an awkward situation within the newsroom. However, as a reporter this error in judgement will not overshadow Woodward’s illustrious career. Ifill acknowledges that the panel all know the risks associated with having sensitive information and sources and asks if the panel thinks there is a difference between Woodward the author and Woodward the journalist. Alexis Simendinger of the National Journal muses about different allegiances between an author and a reporter, but there is a chilling effect when someone of Woodward’s stature fears the possibility of being subpoenaed. Jeanne Cummings of the Wall Street Journal thinks the panel understands the distinction between being an author and a reporter but the public will not, thus leading to lower view of the media in public opinion polls. Ifill brings up the Shield Law proposal in Congress, which is to further shield witnesses from providing sensitive information in court, and asks Andrea Seabrook of National Public Radio if this incident with Mr. Woodward will make passage less likely. Seabrook thinks it will be more likely, especially if more subpoenas are issued to journalists in the course of investigation. Lawmakers are realizing that if they act to protect journalists, they indirectly protect themselves.
Washington Week Show - WW4521 - "Show Close"
Show host Gwen Ifill thanks her guests, promotes the show’s podcast, and signs off. End credits.