CNN Judy Woodruff's Inside Politics - Transcript

CNN Judy Woodruff's Inside Politics -Transcript

REP. JAMES CLYBURN (D-SC),VICE CHAIRMAN, DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS: Well, I don't know what he meant by that, but the language is pretty clear to me. But I also know what the facts are.

The facts are these, that on average, African-Americans do die sooner. But the fact of the matter is, Social Security is a real good benefit for African-Americans because, on average, African-Americans earn less. And because they earn less, they pay less into Social Security. And Social Security has a better payout for low-income earners than upper income earners. So, on that count, African- Americans got a better deal.

Also, survivor benefits and disability are a big parts of Social Security. Over a third of what Social Security is all about. And because of the jobs that African-Americans work in, they are more prone to have disabilities, and they are also more prone to need survivor benefits.

So if we will allow the president's position to go unchecked, the next thing we will hear, white Americans will be saying that survivor benefits are no good and ought to be gotten rid of because white Americans don't benefit as greatly on survivor benefits and disability as black Americans.

WOODRUFF: But how do you know the president isn't simply acknowledging what is? And that is, that because African-Americans don't live as long as whites, that they are, in effect, subsidizing the system?

CLYBURN: No. But that's not true. I'm saying because they don't live as long, means that disability and survivor benefits are more quickly accruing to black Americans.

WOODRUFF: So your colleague, Congressman Mel Watt, made that statement to me. Are you saying you disagree with him?

CLYBURN: Well, if he made that statement without regards to survivor benefits and disability, yes, I would be in disagreement with him. Because I'm going where the facts are. Now, look, a study was done and released in March 2002, three years ago. That study was from the Social Security network. And that study indicated that it is absolutely a false claim that African- Americans do not get as good a deal in the final analysis on Social Security as white Americans.

WOODRUFF: Have you heard anything from the White House about what you said?

CLYBURN: No. I hadn't heard what I said, to tell you the truth. I remember what I said, but I haven't seen any reports about it.

WOODRUFF: Congressman, let me ask you about something else, and is that the newly chosen chair of the Democratic National Committee, Howard Dean.

CLYBURN: Yes.

WOODRUFF: In comments to the Democratic Party Black Caucus last week, Governor Dean said-and I'm quoting-"You think the Republican National Committee could get this many people of color in a single room?" He went on to say, "Only if they had the hotel staff in here."

What's your reaction to that?

CLYBURN: Well, I didn't hear that, and so I don't know the context within which he said it. And therefore, taken out of context, I would not have any reaction to it.

I do believe that the DNC made a good choice when they choose Howard Dean. I think he's going to be good for our party. I think he was-being a governor, a very successful governor, being a candidate for president, he brings to the chairmanship of the DNC a kind of background and experience that we've never had before, and I think he's going to make a good chair.

WOODRUFF: I ask because former Republican Congressman JC Watts, and the current lieutenant governor of Maryland, Michael Steele, are both today putting out a statement calling on Howard Dean to apologize. They are saying this is a racially insensitive, intolerable remark and they want him to say-to apologize.

CLYRBURN: Well, as I said, things like that when said within a certain context could very well be appropriate to say. And there are certain circumstances when they may not be appropriate. But having not been in the room and not known the context with in which he said it, I will not pass judgment on it.

WOODRUFF: So you're not prepared to ask him to apologize for that?

CLYBURN: Oh, absolutely not. It sounds like something Jim Clyburn would say under certain circumstances.

WOODRUFF: You're speaking of yourself of course. CLYBURN: Yes.

WOODRUFF: All right.

CLYBURN: I sometimes speak in the third person.

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