MSNBC "Hardball" - Transcript: Interview with Rep. James Clyburn

Interview

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MATTHEWS:  Was the speaker speaking as the institutional speaker in nonpartisan nature, or was this a power play to tell the president, if you`re going to not be a true chief executive and run this country, we`re not going to let you act like a head of state and get all the honors that come with it?
 
What do you think it was about, politics or institution?
 
REP. JAMES CLYBURN (D), SOUTH CAROLINA:  I think it`s about preserving the institution.  It`s about trying to maintain the dignity that goes with both of our institutions here in the House and on the part of the administration. 
 
We`re already in a very unusual situation.  Security is a big, big issue for everybody.  All our members are feeling it traveling through the airport going back home on the weekends.
 
Our constituents, especially the military folks, are very, very concerned about this.  And morale is getting very, very low.  And so I think the speaker has a lot of concern for this. 
 
And I know this is a bit unusual, but, you know, it is not unusual for us to get a State of the Union in writing.  In fact, if my memory serves, I think Roosevelt did it in 1945.  He sent a message just before he passed away. 
 
So, getting it in writing is not all that unusual. 
 
MATTHEWS:  Let me ask you about the ultimate call here.
 
At some point between now and whenever, late January, the speaker, through the joint resolution by both houses, has to decide whether to invite this president to come up and give -- address a joint session. 
 
CLYBURN:  Right. 
 
MATTHEWS:  Do you want her and do you want to Congress to do that by joint resolution or not, invite the president or not?
 
CLYBURN:  Yes, I want to invite the president.  But I want us to do it at a time when the safety would not be a concern.
 
That resolution has to pass both houses.  It has not been introduced yet.  We`re still operating on the letter of invitation that went to him.  But the resolution that has to go to both the House and the Senate, that`s not been done yet.
 
And so I would hope that we can negotiate when would be a good time for the resolution to stipulate a time and a date for the State of the Union to take place.
 
MATTHEWS:  And now for another sticky issue.
 
Earlier tonight, the House moved a motion to censure Republican Steve King of Iowa for his recent racist remarks back to committee, where they will recommend action.
 
The measure, if approved on the House floor, would make King the 24th lawmaker in history to have the House formally disapprove of his conduct. 
 
Representative King has had a long history, of course, of making racist remarks.  And, however, few Republicans distanced themselves from him in the past.
 
Let`s take a look. 
 
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MATTHEWS:  Well, Mr. Clyburn, the worm has turned, hasn`t it? 
 
(LAUGHTER)
 
CLYBURN:  Well, I think that we have reached a tipping point with him. 
 
I think that those accolades you just heard came in the midst of campaigns, either his own or those speakers, their campaigns.  But I think that if you look at over the litany of things that have taken place, "The New York Times" just published the stuff that goes all the way back to when he was a state legislator.
 
And these things are pretty egregious.  And for him to speak, as he spoke, of white supremacy, white nationalism as being something that should be acceptable, I think that went a little bit too far.
 
And that`s why, when I put up the resolution of disapproval, it got all but one vote in the House of Representatives, because people have reached their, I think, tipping point with this gentleman.  And I think it`s time for us to let -- or for him to just find another career. 
 
MATTHEWS:  Thank you so much, U.S. Congressman James Clyburn, leader in the Democratic House of Representatives.  Thank you, from South Carolina.
 
CLYBURN:  Well, thank you.

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