CNN "Erin Burnett Outfront" - Transcript: Interview with Jim Clyburn
Interview
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REP. JIM CLYBURN (D-SC): Well, thank you very much for having me.
You know, Erin, I have always (AUDIO GAP) from real discussions about foreign issues. These foreign relations issues I do not spend a lot of time studying and I try not to speak on things that I have not researched well. And I do not know exactly what all is going into this trip.
I do know this: the American people are very concerned, about humanitarian issues, but also concerned about securing the border. And I think what she's doing is trying to carry out both of those issues in a way that the American people will find satisfactory. But I have no idea about what goes into all of it.
BURNETT: And I understand. Look, I think it's very refreshing to hear someone willing to speak on the part they know about.
Do you think that's right for people like Congressman Ocasio-Cortez to becoming right out and criticizing Harris and trying to, you know, say that people coming to the border would be 100 percent legal, and, you know, obviously criticizing her for what she's saying in Guatemala?
CLYBURN: Well, as I said I don't know. I have no idea about the intricacies of all of this and I'm not going to pass a judgment. I have great faith in Kamala Harris, great admiration for Kamala Harris, and I am very pleased, to follow her leadership.
BURNETT: So, let me ask you and I think, obviously, very clear there, your respect for the vice president. I want to ask you about what's happening right now, in the Senate, in the House, with the voting rights bill.
The NAACP and civil rights groups are planning to meet with the Democratic Senator Joe Manchin this week. As you know, of course, Congressman, he vowed to oppose the voting rights bill on the table. He opposes any efforts to end the filibuster.
Manchin saying in part, quote: I believe that partisan voting legislation will destroy the already weakening binds of our democracy. And for that reason, I will vote against the for the people act. Furthermore, I will not vote to weaken or eliminate the filibuster.
Do you have any hope, Congressman Clyburn, that these meetings would make Senator Manchin change his mind?
CLYBURN: Well, I don't know what's Senator Manchin has referenced. Let me ask him, show me one Democrat that has voted for these suppressive bills that have passed in several states, and had been introduced in 47 states, I don't know where a single Democrat has voted for any one of them. If that's not partisanship, then tell me what is.
So, I want to know why does he thinks it so necessary for him to use his authority, his power to keep people like Ossoff and Warnock from Georgia for casting their votes for a piece of legislation they think will preserve the integrity of their elections. That's what he's doing here. If he's against the For the People Act, then he can vote against it.
But that's not what he's doing here. When he's doing here is using a traditional way of suppressing voters and for denying civil rights. I'm here in South Carolina. Strom Thurmond in 1957 set the record for filibustering in 1957 Civil Rights Act, which was not much more -- nothing more than expressing a policy.
And this is what he's trying to protect? I think Senator Manchin needs to take a hard look at what he's saying here.
BURNETT: So --
CLYBURN: He's not talking about voting against For the People. He's talking about denying all the Democratic senators an opportunity to cast a vote on a very critical issue.
BURNETT: OK. So, let me -- let me understand exactly.
[19:35:00]
I know that -- obviously, your criticism is very harsh. I know you're giving your honest view.
Congressman Mondaire Jones' response to Senator Manchin was, Manchin's op-ed might well be titled, "Why I'll vote to preserve Jim Crow".
And here is Congressman Jamaal Bowman.
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REP. JAMAAL BOWMAN (D-NY): Joe Manchin has become the new Mitch McConnell. He is doing the work of the Republican Party by being an obstructionist, just like they've been since the beginning of Biden's presidency.
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BURNETT: Now, I know your feelings on this, but at some point to point out. Senator Manchin does support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which restores some major pieces of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. It's something you've been instrumental in. You said passing it would be the best way to honor the life of your friend, John Lewis.
Is -- how far would you go in terms of what Manchin is doing? If he supports that, is it fair to say that he's preserving Jim Crow by not supporting the current Democratic voting bill?
CLYBURN: I would say to Senator Manchin, you've told us what you're or against. I'm going to put forth the legislation that you would like to see passed. Let us see your bill on voting rights and preserving the integrity of our democracy.
We are playing a very dangerous game here. You know, if I had not study history all of my life, maybe I wouldn't be thinking the way I think, and not feeling the way I feel. The fact of the matter is, the greatest empires in the world came down because of decadence and a lot of avoidance of issues. It's a whole theory, that Nero played his fiddle as Rome burned.
What we have is a modern day fiddling around in the Senate, and this democracy is on fire. We saw, that on January 6th. We see that in every legislature, not everyone but in several legislatures across this country.
This democracy is at the crossroads, and he better stop playing -- stop playing with this, because if you are all for preserving the integrity of this great country, you will be preserving the right people to vote. And that is what Manchin is playing with and I think he better take a hard look at what the history of this world is all about.
The greatest empire in the world failed back in 476, and this country, this world (INAUDIBLE) for the next 600 years, almost 600 years.
BURNETT: All right. Congressman Clyburn, I appreciate as always your thoughts and your perspective, putting that context on it. Thank you.
CLYBURN: Thank you.
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