Obama on 'Face the Nation'
by John McCormick
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama appeared on "Face the Nation" this morning on CBS. The transcript is below:
CBS, "Face the Nation," interviewed by Bob Schieffer, 12/23/2007
Bob Schieffer: And good morning again. Joining us from Des Moines this morning, Senator Barack Obama. And Senator thank you so much coming in this morning. And you are in a very good place this morning it seems like you are leading out there in Iowa. According to an average of the polls its getting very, very close in New Hampshire and it turns out you are now leading in South Carolina. I want to begin this morning by asking you about something you said this morning in the Des Moines Register, you argued to two of their reporters that you are the most electable of the Democrats. And you said that one reason for that you point to what you said you would not automatically have the Republicans rallied against you in the way in the way you argue that Senator Clinton would have them rallied against her. I mean, what are you saying here Senator that she just brings out the worst of the Republicans and you don't, I mean, how can you say that?
Senator Barack Obama: First of all, that was based on polls that we have seen, Bob, over the last several weeks that show me beating ever single Republican and showing that I am the only Democrat that does. And the difference, I think, is that I draw more Republicans and independents. And I actually think that Senator Clinton is a capable, solid Senator from New York. But because of the history of some of the battles that have taken place back in the 90s, it is true that she tends to galvanize the other side. But I was making more of a positive argument than a negative argument. What I've seen as I travel around Iowa and the across the country that people want to see the next president bring people together, push back the influence of special interests and lobbyists, talk straight with the American people and get things done. And how we've been running our campaign, I think, is the same way we want to govern. I may have disagreements with Republicans but I don't want to polarize and demonize those folks. I want to see if we can bring them into a working majority to actually deliver on healthcare, education, and new energy policy and a foreign policy that can repair some of the damage that has been done. So, the message was really one of what I can bring to the table as opposed to what others can't.
Bob Schieffer: Well in fact do you think that it would be a meaner and nastier campaign were she was the nominee instead of you?
Senator Barack Obama: Well, my suspicion is that the Republican National Committee is going be targeting any Democratic nominee. I am sure that there will be a lot of negative ads out there. They don't have much to run on based on what happened over the last seven to eight years. So, there is no doubt that there will be negativity, but I do think that if you start off with high negatives then you are playing on a very short field; and it's hard for you then to persuade those who might be persuadable to come into your corner. One of the things that I am seeing is that its not just Democrats, but it is also Republicans and independents who have also lost trust in how our government has functioned. They're concerned about profligate spending on things that aren't our priorities. They are concerned about the fact that we have a foreign policy that has diminished our standing around the world. They are concerned about inefficiencies. Katrina didn't just upset Democrats—it upset Republicans as well. And so we have a chance, potentially, to bring in people who have seen the philosophy of George Bush and Dick Cheney not serve the country well and are I think are willing to consider a new approach.
Bob Schieffer: Let me talk to you about the center piece of your campaign, you say it is change. Well now you've been in Washington and you have had a good record as a freshman Senator from Illinois. You're party has been in the majority, you have been on one of the key committees. What could you say at this point that since you have been dealing with national matters that you have change significantly? Have you changed anything yet or is that still to come?
Senator Barack Obama: Well actually, I think I have brought about change over the last two and half years. I passed along with Russ Feingold – the toughest ethics reform since Washington. We eliminated meals and gifts and the use of corporate jets from lobbyists to Congressman. We mandated the disclosure of bundling by lobbyists, who they are taking money from and who they are giving it to. I worked with Republicans across the aisle to set up a Google for government where that every dollar of federal spending is going to be on a virtual database, so that you as a journalist, but also ordinary citizens can find out how we are spending our money. And if there's a bridge being built to nowhere, or if there's a no-bid contract going to somebody, that will be transparent, and we will be able to hold our government accountable. On nuclear proliferation issues and arms control, I've worked with people like Dick Lugar to get things done. On Veterans Affairs, you know, in Walter Reed we had young men and women who were having to pay for their own meals after having been injured in service to our country; we eliminated that. So, obviously, there's a record there that I'm very proud of, but, when I talk about change, it's not simply policies; it's also a change in leadership. And what, right now, the American people are desperate for is a president that they can trust, who's going to promote accountability and transparency in our government, who's going to take a new approach on thing s like foreign policy—talking not just to our friends, but also to our enemies—and that's the kind of leadership I'm providing, and that's why we're doing so well in Iowa, and New Hampshire, and South Carolina; and, I think, ultimately, across the country.
Bob Schieffer: Well, Senator Clinton's husband says, not withstanding all of that, I'm sure he wouldn't concede that you've accomplished as much as you've just outlined there. He says that anybody who votes for you is taking a roll of the dice. What do you think about that, and are you surprised to find yourself running against Bill Clinton as well as Hillary Clinton?
Senator Barack Obama: Well, look, I don't begrudge Bill Clinton helping his wife. You know, my wife's helping me, and I understand that, you know, he's loyal to her and wants to make sure that he puts the best face forward on her campaign.
Bob Schieffer: Well, what about his criticism?
Senator Barack Obama: Well, what I would note would be that much of the criticism he's leveling at me is identical to the criticism that was leveled against him when he was running against George H.W. Bush. Folks said that here's a governor of a small state, has no foreign policy experience whatsoever, and his argument was "Look, my experience is rooted in the real lives of real people, and will bring real results if we have the courage to change."
Bob Schieffer: Do you think he's helping her campaign or hurting?
Senator Barack Obama: Well, I--there's no doubt that he's an asset to her campaign. Look, there's enormous fondness for Bill Clinton among Democrats, and I think that he brings the sort of megawatt celebrity that is almost unequalled anywhere in the country. When he shows up, there are big crowds. But, what people, I think, recognize, despite the fondness of him and of her--I think people feel that they respect her very much but, what people here in Iowa consistently tell me is they're looking for something different; they're looking for something new. They want to turn the page, and they want to deliver the sort of concrete goals of healthcare, an improved education system ,a new energy policy, and the reason I think we're doing well is that we represent a set of new ideas and a new attitude in terms of inviting the American people into participating in their government.
Bob Schieffer: Let me ask you about the war. You were on e of the first to say "we shouldn't go to Iraq." You say you've always been against it; you were against the surge. But, when you look at what's happening—what is happening, over there, Senator Obama, there is no question violence is down, This month , compared to November of a year ago, there were six hundred and fifty civilian deaths, a year go there were thirty-four hundred plus. Iraqi security forces, they're building up. Daily attacks are down form a hundred and eighty last November to just eighty this year. What do you think would be the situation right now, Senator, if the president had taken your advice?
Senator Barack Obama: Well, if he had taken my advice we would have never been in Iraq, and we would've saved ourselves—
Bob Schieffer: Lets' just talk about this, this recent surge of troops; the recent surge.
Senator Barack Obama: Well, keep in mind what I said at the time when the surge was being proposed: that I had no doubt that additional U.S. troops would make some difference on the ground—we've got the best troops in the world. But, George Bush's own premise was that as a consequence of the surge, we would give breathing room to the Iraqi's to start negotiating, and to stabilize the political situation there, and that was what I was skeptical of, and continue to be skeptical of. I'm glad that the violence has gone down, but keep in mind, Bob, that we've essentially gone full circle. We had intolerable levels of violence, and a dysfunctional government back in 2006. We saw a huge spike in violence to horrific levels. The surge comes in, and now we're back to where we were in 2006 with intolerable levels of violence and a dysfunctional Iraqi government. If we want to stabilize the situation in Iraq over the long term, then we have to trigger different behavior among the Shia, Kurdish factions, and get them to come to an agreement on how they're going to govern, and that has not happened. The only way, I believe, to trigger that different attitude is going to be if we announce a phased, careful, responsible, redeployment, and that's what I've proposed consistently.
Bob Schieffer: Alright. Well, Senator, we want to wish you the best out there, and I'm sure we'll being seeing you before those Iowa caucuses. We'll be back with Republican—
Senator Barack Obama: Bob, Merry Christmas.
Bob Schieffer: —presidential candidate Mike Huckabee in just one minute. Thank you, Senator.
Senator Barack Obama: Merry Christmas.
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