WEBVTT - Rush Interviews Vice President Dick Cheney

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<v Speaker 1>Once again, Mr Vice President of Thrill, and an honor

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<v Speaker 1>to have you with a sir, Well, good afternoon Russian.

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<v Speaker 1>All right, Um, first thing, we just had a call

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<v Speaker 1>leads me into my first question for you about the economy.

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<v Speaker 1>Caller was frustrated that the Party UH at large doesn't

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<v Speaker 1>seem to be getting the news out about how good

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<v Speaker 1>the economy is. And indeed, the economic statistics are fabulous unemployment,

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<v Speaker 1>middle class, wage growth, dal Jones industrial average flirting with

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<v Speaker 1>the twelve. Yet we're told that people don't feel uh,

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<v Speaker 1>this economy is good. Why do you think that is

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<v Speaker 1>if it's true, and how how do you all plan

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<v Speaker 1>to use the economy the next three weeks of the campaign? Well,

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<v Speaker 1>I think, first of all, you're absolutely right, Rush, the

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<v Speaker 1>economy is very good. Been involved in a lot of

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<v Speaker 1>campaigns going back nearly forty years, and I'm hard to

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<v Speaker 1>put to find a time when things were as good

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<v Speaker 1>as they are now for the Party UH. From from

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<v Speaker 1>our perspective, um, and you've cited all the data. We've

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<v Speaker 1>got over six point six million jobs, we've ad in

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<v Speaker 1>a little over three years now, we home ownerships in

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<v Speaker 1>an all time record high, stock markets at a high,

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<v Speaker 1>You know, everything's really kicking along in great shape, and

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<v Speaker 1>the deficit was times to drive that point through to

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<v Speaker 1>the public. But uh, and I think a lot of

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<v Speaker 1>the press coverage, you know, focuses on specific problems. Gasoline

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<v Speaker 1>prices go up and everybody gets upset and takes that

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<v Speaker 1>as sort of a lead indicated for the economy. But

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<v Speaker 1>our gasoline prices are coming down. Um, natural gas prices

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<v Speaker 1>are coming down. Heating bills are going to be lower

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<v Speaker 1>this winter. So I think it just takes time for

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<v Speaker 1>it to think in well, the It's interesting the gas

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<v Speaker 1>price run up was was hailed as a uh failure

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<v Speaker 1>of the Bush administration's economic policy. Now that gas prices

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<v Speaker 1>are coming down, the focus seems to be on what

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<v Speaker 1>is it you all are doing to manipulate the market

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<v Speaker 1>before the election? Also, you know, wanted to mention to

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<v Speaker 1>you that the deficits been cutting half three years early. Uh,

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<v Speaker 1>it is it really, it really is stunning news. But

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<v Speaker 1>it's a it's a large drive by media megaphone to

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<v Speaker 1>overcome Is there is there a is there coordinated effort

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<v Speaker 1>within all these candidates that are running for reelection to

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<v Speaker 1>stress the economy. Well, we're trying. I've got two major

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<v Speaker 1>subjects I address when I'm out on the road. One

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<v Speaker 1>is to talk about tax policy and what that's done

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<v Speaker 1>for our economy, and the other is to focus on

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<v Speaker 1>the global war on terror present. In the last week,

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<v Speaker 1>when we had the good news on the depth sit

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<v Speaker 1>as we closed out the fiscal year, was out publicly

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<v Speaker 1>talking specifically about that point, trying to take advantage of

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<v Speaker 1>the opportunity to get the idea across everybody that we

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<v Speaker 1>did hit our target three years early in terms of

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<v Speaker 1>depthsit reduction, but again that was primarily as a result

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<v Speaker 1>of our tax policy and the fact that we've supported

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<v Speaker 1>the pro growth policies and it hasn't generated more economic

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<v Speaker 1>activity and more jobs and ultimately more revenue for the

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<v Speaker 1>federal government. When you're out there, are you encountering uh

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<v Speaker 1>any ampathy? Are you encountering engaged citing? What's the mood

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<v Speaker 1>you're running and I know you're speaking to mostly Republican audience,

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<v Speaker 1>How do you assess them? Sure? Well I did. Yesterday.

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<v Speaker 1>For example, I was down in Louisville, Kentucky for a Congressman,

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<v Speaker 1>Jeff Davis, who was a great member by the way,

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<v Speaker 1>I think get reelected. I also stopped it for Campbell

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<v Speaker 1>and and thank members of the hundred first Airborne for

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<v Speaker 1>all their good work they've been doing in the Middle East.

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<v Speaker 1>But the mood that I find in terms of the

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<v Speaker 1>people I'm talking with is very positive. Now. Of course,

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<v Speaker 1>I'm probably not going to see a lot of Democrats

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<v Speaker 1>coming to Republican fundraiser, so I don't want to misread

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<v Speaker 1>the situation, but I think I find a far more

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<v Speaker 1>positive attitude out there than one would be led to

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<v Speaker 1>believe just by reading the national press. Do you get

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<v Speaker 1>frustrated when you see Republicans speculating on how many House

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<v Speaker 1>seats are gonna lose? Well, I think it's a natural,

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<v Speaker 1>normal situation at this stage. But I really think we're

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<v Speaker 1>going to do reasonably well. And uh, I think we'll

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<v Speaker 1>hold the Senate. And I also think we've got a

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<v Speaker 1>goot got holding the House. And I've done a hundred

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<v Speaker 1>and fourteen campaign so far this cycle. I've been all

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<v Speaker 1>over the country, um, seeing all kinds of candidates and

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<v Speaker 1>all kinds of races. But I think the key will

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<v Speaker 1>be you know, who goes to the polls on election day,

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<v Speaker 1>And certainly it's always tough when you're in the mid

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<v Speaker 1>term of your second presidential term in office. Historically those

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<v Speaker 1>are the most difficult elections for the incumbents in the

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<v Speaker 1>White House. But I think the basic fundamental facts in

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<v Speaker 1>terms of national security, in terms of five years of

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<v Speaker 1>of defeating the terrorists and their efforts to try to

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<v Speaker 1>launch another attack against the United States. I think the

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<v Speaker 1>overall healthy economy. I think progress we're making in all

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<v Speaker 1>those areas all argues that in fact, when the American

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<v Speaker 1>people have to make a choice between us and the Democrats,

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<v Speaker 1>I think they'll come down on the side of supporting

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<v Speaker 1>the President and Republican candidates. The war Rock, national security,

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<v Speaker 1>war on terror, it's it's all combined into one issue

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<v Speaker 1>now as far as the election is concerned. And when

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<v Speaker 1>you h but I saw the President last night say

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<v Speaker 1>that acknowledges that there's some frustration on the part of

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<v Speaker 1>the American people regarding a rock because we all want

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<v Speaker 1>to win. And uh, it's we can't declare victory yet. Um.

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<v Speaker 1>The President signed the Military Detainee Act today, the Tribunal Act. Uh.

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<v Speaker 1>And it's it's clear to me anyway that you and

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<v Speaker 1>the White House are not changing policy on this at all.

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<v Speaker 1>That the operating policy here is victory. Um is the

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<v Speaker 1>is the perception that victory is possible strong enough? Is

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<v Speaker 1>is that is that possibility being laid out in strong

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<v Speaker 1>enough terms of the American people that they think it's possible.

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<v Speaker 1>Are they beginning to doubt that it can happen? Well,

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<v Speaker 1>I think there's some natural level of concern out there

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<v Speaker 1>because in fact, you know, it wasn't over instantaneously. It's

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<v Speaker 1>been a little over three years now since we went

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<v Speaker 1>into Iraq, So I don't think it's surprising that people

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<v Speaker 1>are concerned. On the other hand, this government has only

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<v Speaker 1>been in office about five months, five or six months now. Um,

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<v Speaker 1>they're off to a good start. Uh. It is difficult,

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<v Speaker 1>no question about it. But we've now got over three

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<v Speaker 1>hundred thousand Iraqis trained and equipped as part of their

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<v Speaker 1>security forces. They've had three national elections with higher turnout

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<v Speaker 1>than we have here in the United States. H If

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<v Speaker 1>you look at the general overall situation, Um, they're doing

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<v Speaker 1>remarkably well. It's still very very difficult, very tough, and

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<v Speaker 1>nobody should underestimate the extent to which we're engaged there

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<v Speaker 1>with This is sort of at present the major front

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<v Speaker 1>in the War on Terra. That's what Osama bin Lawton says,

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<v Speaker 1>and he's right. It's very important that we prevail there.

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<v Speaker 1>But we're engaged on a really on a global basis.

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<v Speaker 1>We're very active in Afghanistan. We've got UH continuing activities

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<v Speaker 1>in Pakistan. We've captured and field more alcide in Pakistan

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<v Speaker 1>probably than any place else. We're active working with the

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<v Speaker 1>saudiast and many others in that part of the world.

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<v Speaker 1>So it's a major conflict. It's going to run for

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<v Speaker 1>a long time, UH, and everybody needs to understand that.

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<v Speaker 1>Campaign I look on as an opportunity to remind everybody

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<v Speaker 1>what's at stake here and UH in this particular instance,

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<v Speaker 1>it's especially important to point out to people that the

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<v Speaker 1>terrorists can't beat us in a stand up fight. They

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<v Speaker 1>can only win if we lose our will, and they're

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<v Speaker 1>betting we will. They're betting we don't have the stomach

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<v Speaker 1>for the fight. And I don't think that's true. And

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<v Speaker 1>I faced with that basic fundamental choice, I think the

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<v Speaker 1>American people understand that it's having gone on offense, I

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<v Speaker 1>havn't gotten aggressive going after the terrorists, closing those training

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<v Speaker 1>camps in Afghanistan, and working to take down the regimes

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<v Speaker 1>like Saddam Hussein and to the stand up democracy is

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<v Speaker 1>in their place, as well as tough measures here at home.

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<v Speaker 1>So what's kept us safe for five years? And it's

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<v Speaker 1>the reason why there hasn't been another attack like nine

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<v Speaker 1>eleven on the US. Well, I there's no question the

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<v Speaker 1>American people respond to leadership in in times like this. Uh.

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<v Speaker 1>And it's let me let me put it to you

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<v Speaker 1>this way. I I um was reading something today a

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<v Speaker 1>writer don't remember who was speculating on increase terrorist attacks

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<v Speaker 1>in a rock attempting to demoralize the American people as

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<v Speaker 1>we get up to the election. And I read that

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<v Speaker 1>It made sense to me and I interpreted this is

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<v Speaker 1>that the terrorists are actually involved and want to involved

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<v Speaker 1>themselves in our electoral process, which must mean they want

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<v Speaker 1>to change. Now. I know you can't comment politically on

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<v Speaker 1>on the point that I make, but do you expect uh?

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<v Speaker 1>And is there preparation for it? But one of the

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<v Speaker 1>things I read was that there's been noted plots to

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<v Speaker 1>actually try to blow up the Green Zone. We one

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<v Speaker 1>was aborted and discovered recently, but some major attacks being

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<v Speaker 1>planned for right up until the election, which could be

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<v Speaker 1>devastating if they happen in terms of the American people's morale. Sure, well,

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<v Speaker 1>I think there's no question of what this is A

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<v Speaker 1>sophisticated crew who understand the impact on public opinion. And

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<v Speaker 1>as I say, I think, well, they say as much

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<v Speaker 1>what they're banking on. They harked back to Somalian or

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<v Speaker 1>Beirute three when after Americans were killed, our response was

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<v Speaker 1>to withdraw our forces. So I think they're very sensitive

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<v Speaker 1>to that kind of thing. And as I say, they

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<v Speaker 1>clearly don't have the military capability to defeat us, but

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<v Speaker 1>they believe they can break our will. And so you

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<v Speaker 1>look at something like our elections here and I think

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<v Speaker 1>they're probably I don't have any proof, but I think

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<v Speaker 1>they're probably very sensitive to that. We saw what they

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<v Speaker 1>did in Spain a few years ago. I remember, right

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<v Speaker 1>as in our supported US very aggressively, and shortly before

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<v Speaker 1>the elections in Spain they launched an attack on the

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<v Speaker 1>trains that set off several bombs and killed a bunch

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<v Speaker 1>of people shortly before the election, and they probably did

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<v Speaker 1>have that impact. There was a story in the Washington

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<v Speaker 1>Post yesterday or earlier in the week that was they were.

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<v Speaker 1>The reporter was amazed that the President and Karl Rove

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<v Speaker 1>remained quote inexplicably upbeat unquote about the outcome of the elections.

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<v Speaker 1>And there is no land for if Republicans lose the

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<v Speaker 1>House and or the Senate. Can you tell us why

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<v Speaker 1>the upbeat attitude in the White House? Well, because you know,

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<v Speaker 1>we're out there working hard in connection with this campaign.

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<v Speaker 1>Because I think we feel like we've got some great candidates. Um.

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<v Speaker 1>I've got great confidence in Carl and Ken Melman up

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<v Speaker 1>at the r n C. These are two of the

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<v Speaker 1>best in the business in terms of understanding this process.

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<v Speaker 1>And I think our candidates are well financed. We're doing

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<v Speaker 1>everything humanly possible to succeed in this election. And of

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<v Speaker 1>course we tracked polls as everybody else does too. And

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<v Speaker 1>I think it's easy to sit in Washington and sort

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<v Speaker 1>of absorb the vibes coming from the national media. Um,

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<v Speaker 1>but that doesn't represent necessarily what's going on out there

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<v Speaker 1>around the country. And when you get out on the

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<v Speaker 1>ground talking with real people about real problems, their hopes

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<v Speaker 1>and desires for their families and for the nation, as

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<v Speaker 1>well as their appreciation for what we've been able to

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<v Speaker 1>accomplish over the last six years. One final, one final question.

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<v Speaker 1>You guys are fighting so hard to uh defeat the

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<v Speaker 1>terrorists in and around this country and around the world.

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<v Speaker 1>Do you have any reactions to the lenient sentence that

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<v Speaker 1>Lynn Stewart received yesterday in New York. Well, I was

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<v Speaker 1>I was surprised. I of course, it's not for me

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<v Speaker 1>to uh substitute my judgment for a judge, but I think,

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<v Speaker 1>of course the prosecution had asked for much different sentence.

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<v Speaker 1>And this was somebody who has been supposedly convicted or

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<v Speaker 1>pled guilty to being a key intermediary for a major terrorist. Uh.

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<v Speaker 1>And you know that's significant. I think we need to

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<v Speaker 1>make certain that when we find somebody who is indeed

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<v Speaker 1>in bed with a terrorists, that they are appropriately brought

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<v Speaker 1>to justice. Mr Vice President, thanks very much for your time.

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<v Speaker 1>I I know you gave us a couple of minutes

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<v Speaker 1>extra than you had on your schedule, and I appreciate

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<v Speaker 1>it and we look forward to the next time. Best

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<v Speaker 1>to you. Well, Rush, You've got a great show. It

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<v Speaker 1>is always and it's good to talk to you. Thank you, sir.

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<v Speaker 1>Vice President Dick Cheney