MSNBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript

Interview

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SCHULTZ: Welcome back to "The Ed Show."

President Obama is considering a plan to move Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States mainland. The plan would call for moving 100 detainees to the Thompson Correctional Center in northern Illinois. It would play a large role in play in closing Gitmo and create almost 3,000 new jobs in the area.

But of course the fear-mongering and Republicans are fighting this hard against any possible transfer by saying, of course, that this is going to make us less safe.

Joining me now in the Senate is Senate Majority Whip Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois. Senator, good to have you with us tonight, thanks so much.

SEN. DICK DURBIN, (D-IL) SENATE MAJORITY WHIP: Good to be with you, Ed.

SCHULTZ: You bet. Is this the right thing to do? Are you in favor of this?

DURBIN: I sure am. I don't stand alone. General Colin Powell said if he had his way he wouldn't close Guantanamo tomorrow, he's close it this afternoon because it's a danger to our troops.

The Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, who has served President Bush and now President Obama says the same thin thing.

When you listen to General Petraeus and the people who are watching this war against terrorists unfold, they understand that the sooner Guantanamo is closed the safer our troops will be. That's why I support this administration's position.

SCHULTZ: McCain, McConnell, Boehner, you know, all the leaders over there on the right are saying that this is the wrong thing to do. Is it a security risk in any, way, shape, or form? We would have terrorists, alleged terrorists on our soil.

DURBIN: Well, 350 convicted terrorists are currently serving in American prisons, 35 of them in the state of Illinois. In fact, just a few months ago, an Al Qaeda-connected terrorist was convicted and incarcerated at the federal penitentiary in Marion, Illinois, without a stir. No one even noticed because there are many dangerous people there, and they're being safely and securely held.

The same thing will be true at this Thompson facility if the Obama administration chooses it. It will be the most secure super max prison when it comes to these Guantanamo detainees in the United States. There's never been an escape from one of these prisons.

And the arguments that I hear, Ed, from the other side, it really is terrible, the fear mongering. You described it as such. This notion these Guantanamo detainees will be released in the United States? We didn't vote once. We voted twice and the president signed the law that prohibits that from happening.

So this kind of fear mongering isn't helping us in bringing this country together.

SCHULTZ: And what about the trial that's coming up to have the five defendants being tried here in Manhattan? Is that the right move as well?

DURBIN: Well, just look at the record. Since 9/11 we have convicted 195 for terrorism in the courts of our land using the same courts in New York and other places, successfully convicted them and incarcerated them.

In the same period of time we have successfully convicted three in military tribunals, 195 to three.

The Justice Department believes it has a better chance of putting these people behind bars for the rest of their natural lives by going through our court system.

And it says to the world we're going to do this openly, do this the same way we do for the Americans, and we believe these people have to answer for the misdeeds and tragedy they brought to our country.

SCHULTZ: Let's talk health care for a moment, Dick if we can. Are you going to get the 60 votes?

DURBIN: We're working on it, struggling. I just left a meeting. We need to bring our 60 Democrats together. And of course, there are differences of opinion on critical issues like the public option.

But I think we all understand we have a historic opportunity and historic responsibility. To leave this field of battle empty-handed is a terrible error and real misfortune for our country.

We cannot sustain our current health care system. It is entirely too expensive. Businesses are dropping coverage. People can't afford coverage. The health insurance companies run roughshod over people when you need them the most. We have to change the system.

SCHULTZ: We have to change the system and we have to have some competition for the private sector. That, of course, has been the sticking point for a lot of conservative Democrats. Getting the 60 votes is going to be tough. Are we going to have a public option if your opinion?

DURBIN: I want one and I think Harry Reid showed real leadership and

wisdom when he put an opt out provision in that basically says if your

state doesn't want to offer this option to the people living there, doesn't

want them to have this choice of a not-for-profit health care plan, you can

vote out of the system

It is as straightforward as can be. It doesn't impose it on them. It gives them their own choice in their future.

SCHULTZ: Senator Durbin, great to have you with us tonight.

DURBIN: Thanks, Ed.

SCHULTZ: Thank you, you bet.

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