Decision 2004: The Vice Presidential Debate - Transcript

NBC News Transcripts

SHOW: Decision 2004: The Vice Presidential Debate 9:00 AM EST NBC

October 5, 2004 Tuesday

HEADLINE: Analysis of and responses to debate

ANCHORS: TOM BROKAW

REPORTERS: TIM RUSSERT, BRIAN WILLIAMS, DAVID GREGORY, CAMPBELL BROWN
Senator LINDSEY GRAHAM (Republican, South Carolina): Oh, serving in the government for a long time and explaining to people why it mattered. The criticisms came, but let me be honest with you, I think the vice president absolutely nailed the fact that he's one of the most seasoned leaders in the world. And he took every attack and he responded forcefully. He explained better than anybody, after 30 years of being in government, John Kerry's not up to the task, that he's been on the wrong side of history; that he said in the '70s, 'The UN has to sanction any effort for us to go to war'; that he fought Ronald Reagan's military buildup, defied him in the Cold War. He voted against the first Gulf War resolution-looking back, that is very bad-in '91, and that he voted against the troops. I thought the vice president handled himself very well, very self-assured, gave factual responses to a series of planned attacks, and I'm proud to be a Republican tonight. Last week, I don't think was President Bush's best night. I think Dick Cheney really convinced people we're glad that he's a heartbeat away from the presidency.

BROKAW: All right. I don't have a commission to enforce the rules here, but I'm going to say to each of you, you've got about one minute for the question that I'm about to ask you.

First, let's begin with you, Senator Biden. You have been saying repeatedly that the Iraqis need more capacity to fight back against the insurgency. It's pretty clear based on what the French and what German leaders are saying that they're not going to send any troops. Does that mean that the United States is going to have to send more troops and more money to Iraq to get on top of the insurgency?

Sen. BIDEN: No, what it means is we should put in enough trainers to train the Iraqi forces. We haven't even tra-we haven't e-we don't have enough trainers in there. Number two, we don't even have enough people to let the contracts in there to be able to spend the $18-point billion they keep beating up Kerry for not voting for. And we don't have enough people in there to have the elections take place because we haven't had the UN secured in there. So, I mean, it's-anyway. I-I-I-that's all I have is a minute, I guess, right?

BROKAW: That's right. And this is one of the few times I've known you to stay to just a minute, Senator Biden.

Sen. BIDEN: Thank you. Thank you.

BROKAW: Senator Graham, today we've been hearing from Paul Bremer saying that we do need more troops there.

Sen. GRAHAM: Uh-huh.

BROKAW: Yesterday Don Rumsfeld was saying that he has seen no hard evidence of a connection between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda. The presi-the vice president tonight saying, 'We're going to stay the course.' Do you think that this administration should stay the course as it now exists, or should there be changes in the short term from the administration?

Sen. GRAHAM: I think the most poignant moment to me in the whole debate was when the vice president looked across at Senator Edwards and said, 'If you discount the Iraqis who are dying for their own freedom, you're being unfair.' We have made great improvements. The first operation in April, the military did not perform well-the Iraqi military. This last operation in Samarra, they did very well. They're dying in droves for their own freedom. We do need to stay the course. The troops we need-the vice president is right-is Iraqi troops fighting for and dying for their own freedom, and they are. Staying the course with adjustments is what we need. Senator Kerry's vision of getting out in six months sends the wrong signal to the terrorists. I'm very proud of the fact that the vice president does count the fact that the Iraqis are dying for their own freedom and adjusting some of these numbers.

BROKAW: Senator Lindsey Graham, who succeeded, of course, Strom Thurmond in the United States Senate, and Joe Biden. Thanks very much for being with us.

Sen. BIDEN: Thank you.

Sen. GRAHAM: Thank you.