Fox News "Fox and Friends" -Transcript

Interview

Fox News "Fox and Friends" -Transcript

MS. CARLSON: The fans of NASCAR are contagious, or it appears some folks on Capitol Hill may think so. Staffers were encouraged to get shots before attending last week's NASCAR race at Talladega.

Congressman Bennie Thompson recommended the shots, and in Concord, North Carolina, Congressman Robin Hayes, who says that is just plain insulting.

Good morning to both of you, gentlemen.

REP. HAYES: Good morning.

REP. THOMPSON: Good morning.

MS. CARLSON: Congressman Hayes, you took this as a serious insult. This was your hometown where the NASCAR race was taking place, and suddenly it's being recommended to staffers coming down from Capitol Hill that they be immunized against five diseases. What was going on?

REP. HAYES: We thought it was silly that they said you needed to get a vaccination to come to Concord to go to the NASCAR race. This is the greatest sport on earth today, and you sure don't need a shot to come down here. And Bennie -- I don't know what happened to his staff, but Bennie knows you don't need to have a shot to go to a NASCAR race.

MS. CARLSON: Congressman Thompson, what was the idea behind recommending that staffers get shots like Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B?

REP. THOMPSON: Well, first of all, our committee is looking at mass gatherings from a preparedness standpoint. One of the areas that we will look at is NASCAR in North Carolina, and we'll be there for five days. Staff will be going into public health facilities. They'll be going into other facilities where people from all over the world will be housed. We'll be dealing with immigration and customs enforcement.

We thought it would be proper to recommend it. It had nothing to do with the spectators. All of the individuals who are first responders -- they also have these shots. So in an abundance of caution, we recommended it. Congressman Hayes has --

MS. CARLSON: So, Congressman? Congressman Thompson?

REP. THOMPSON: Yes?

MS. CARLSON: Congressman Thompson, did it have anything to do with the threat of terrorism?

REP. THOMPSON: Well, absolutely. What we're trying to do is make sure that our state and locals are prepared should the terrorists decide to strike. It has nothing to do with the spectators.

And that's why I'm real disappointed with Congressman Hayes's approach to this whole effort. We've been working with NASCAR officials to make sure that security is absolutely the best. We were in Talladega last week.

MS. CARLSON: Right.

REP. THOMPSON: I'm happy to report that what we found there -- it was tremendous, their cooperation and communication, and that's what it's all about. It's not about the spectators who go to NASCAR races.

MS. CARLSON: But you have to understand, Congressman Thompson, that some people may have been surprised when they saw that these shots were recommended because according to the Republican staffers -- who, by the way, did not get the shots -- they say they were told it was not necessary to get these shots by the House attending physician's office.

Right, Congressman Hayes?

REP. HAYES: The whole story is -- and Bennie is a good friend -- Bennie just needs to say the staff was wrong telling people they had to get immunized to go to NASCAR. It's that simple.

Bennie is a good guy doing hard work. NASCAR is safe. It's a great sport that supports our military. It's in my hometown. We welcome everybody from New York, Mississippi, wherever.

MS. CARLSON: Congressman Thompson, are you recommending these shots for other public events upcoming?

REP. THOMPSON: Absolutely. To be honest with you, we'll be looking at Super Bowl activities, all the communications around that. It's about terrorism and preparedness. Our first responders, everybody who's there working to protect the public -- they have these shots.

So -- and what we're trying to do -- Congressman Hayes is absolutely off base. I know he's trying to get his moment of fame, but you shouldn't do it acting like this. What we are trying to do is keep Americans safe. Those Americans who go to activities should be free to go to the activities. But if bad people try to do bad things to them, we should be prepared. And I'm happy to say that we are prepared.

MS. CARLSON: All right. Well, I think Congressman Hayes -- I think Congressman Hayes just had a couple questions about it, and unfortunately I don't have time to let him completely respond. But we thank you both, Congressmen, for joining us this morning.

END.

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