MSNBC - Deborah Norville Tonight - Transcript

MSNBC
SHOW: DEBORAH NORVILLE TONIGHT 21:00

HEADLINE: DEBORAH NORVILLE TONIGHT for September 14, 2004

BYLINE: Deborah Norville; Jack Jacobs

GUESTS: Rep. Joe Wilson; Stacy Bannerman; Karma Kumlin; Jessica Hildebrandt; Kate Zernike

HIGHLIGHT:
The National Guard and Reserve used to be called weekend warriors, but manning the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan has become a full-time job for many, while their families struggle to make ends meet at home. Are words enough to calm the growing dissent among National Guard families?

BODY:

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BANNERMAN: Well, I can assure you, as the wife of an American soldier, a gentleman in the National Guard who's already served 20 years for his country, this is not a political issue for me. This is a personal issue for me. And it is for all of the 1,700 Military Families Speak Out members. It is for this country, and it is certainly a personal issue for all of our people overseas.

NORVILLE: Congressman, I know you can see this issue from many different sides, both as a reservist yourself, having been in for, what is it, about-over 30 years...

REP. JOE WILSON (R-SC), HAS TWO SONS IN NATIONAL GUARD: For 31 years.

NORVILLE: ... and also as a father for some men who are participating and a representative of folks who are over there deployed right now. Where do you come down on this, having heard these two women speak absolutely from the hearts about their fears?

WILSON: And I appreciate their concerns. And we have a president who understands this. That's why he provided for the funding for body armor. Senator Kerry voted against it. This is why we have a president who's providing for health insurance, which is new for those who have Guard membership. Additionally, he's providing for additional education benefits, additional pay benefits. And so we've got a president-as a former Guardsman who served honorably, we're very proud that George W. Bush appreciates the National Guard.

This is the best, shining example of the National Guard service. And indeed, we served in the Persian Gulf war. We served in the Korean war. Many Guard members served in the Vietnam war. And so this is a continuing tradition, as the president identified, which even pre-dates the American civilization.

NORVILLE: You understand, though, don't you, Congressman, where so many families have felt like they've really been left kind of high and dry. These changes that have come about are changes that came because of, probably, the frustrations that were expressed by family members. I mean, the imminent danger pay has been increased by $150 a month to over $200 a month. Doesn't sound like much, but if you're in a Guard situation and the primary breadwinner is away, that money really matters.

WILSON: It really does, and that's why we in Congress, Democrat and Republican, are working with President Bush to help Guard families. And we provide for family support, for legal assistance, which was my job. And I appreciate the service of all of our Guard members. And obviously, I'm very proud that I have a son serving in Iraq today. I have another son who joined. Julian (ph) joined the Guard in May. And so I'm just so grateful. And just one son's a bit off track. He's in the Navy, but I'm very proud of him.

And I've never been prouder of the National Guard. I've been to Iraq three times myself. I visited with our troops in Kurdistan, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Turkey. I've seen it firsthand. And I appreciate the concern of the spouses, and we are trying to reflect that, trying to correct any problem that could occur.

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NORVILLE: That was secretary of state (SIC) Donald Rumsfeld last week, talking about the unknown. The question being, When will Guardsmen and regular soldiers, servicemen, military, be allowed to come back from Iraq, and when will those tours of duty end?

Back now talking with some wives of National Guardsmen who are serving in Iraq, Karma Kumlin, Stacy Bannerman and Jessica Hildebrandt. Also with us is Congressman Joe Wilson, who has three sons in the military, two of them in the Guard. And one of his boys is also in Iraq.

Congressman, you've heard the criticism that there is what some call a backdoor draft by this "stop loss" order that the defense secretary issued earlier this spring, which, in essence, allows the military to extend tours of duty, in some cases as much as 120 days. There was a lawsuit filed last month in which one soldier's attorney suggested that this was a lack of due process and a violation of a signed contract. What do you think?

WILSON: Oh, well, I regret that because, again, we, as Guard families, are very proud of our service. And the vast majority of Guard members, indeed, are proud of serving. We know that we're protecting the American people.

NORVILLE: It's not about being proud of serving, it's about honoring a contract. And that's the question that's being raised in court.

WILSON: And I, as a JAG officer, I believe that we signed the contract. I'm familiar with the contract that I had committed myself to. But it's more than the contract, Deborah. It's a commitment to serve the American people, to protect the American people, to stop the terrorists overseas, and that's what we're trying to do. And so people can be technical, and that's right, they have a right to challenge. But I know that there's a moral and a genuine commitment by Guard members to protect the American people.

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NORVILLE: Yes. Congressman, I know that this is something the president has been keenly aware, and the Bush campaign sent out a lengthy and very informative newsletter today that talked about some of the things that have been done. And one of the things that they mentioned here is an increase in the education benefit. A lot of folks joined the Guard because of that education benefit. Depending on length of service, it can increase as much as 40 percent to 80 percent. What's the rationale behind that?

WILSON: Well, it's to encourage the Guard members-as an incentive to-for recruiting and retention. And Deborah, another thing that I mentioned, which is so wonderful, is the extension of health insurance to Guard families. This really is addressing concerns with the additional play and the providing of the equipment for body armor to protect our troops. And so the president understands the concerns of the wonderful ladies that I'm on with today. And so the president wants-is actually taking positive steps to promote the Guard and the Guard members, as they're protecting the American people in an unprecedented war on terror, which was an attack on us.