MSNBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript: Raising the Minimum Wage
Interview
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REP. JAMES CLYBURN, (D) SOUTH CAROLINA: Well, thank you so much for having
me, Ed.
SCHULTZ: Did the president put Republicans right where they needed to be in a very classy manner? I mean, there was no arrogance, whatsoever, it was stating the facts. What were your expectations going in and in the aftermath, how do you feel about it?
CLYBURN: Well, you know, Ed, going into the speech, I must admit that I was a bit anxious about it. I felt sure that the president was up to the task, but I was not too sure of how receptive the -- bother (ph) would be there within the halls or even how the public would be outside.
But I have been pleasantly surprised that the president`s optimism shown through. He laid out a great opportunity agenda for the American people and he enunciated for all of us the actions he is willing to take in order to get us to where we need to be.
So opportunity, action, optimism exuded throughout that entire speech and that came away very, very pleased with the president`s presentation and I`m static over the way the American people have been responded to him.
Now, that is not to say as he indicated in his speech that my Republican friends are going to be happier with all of these. But I think the president is right where 70, 80 and in some instances 90 percent of American people are -- 90 percent of American people. I believe we ought to raise the minimum wage. I think around 65 to 70 percent Tea Party Republicans thinking we ought to raise the minimum wage. I think that over 80 percent of the American people think that we ought to do unemployment insurance.
And so, when you look at the president`s speech and you look at all of the surveys done about where are the American people are, the president is in sync with the vast majority of American people. But once again, my Republican friends in the Congress seem to be disconnected .
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
CLYBURN: . from it all.
SCHULTZ: Well, Congressman, Paul Ryan we played his sound bite. He`s out and about saying things that simply aren`t true. And if they are true, he hasn`t backed them up with any numbers. There`s this theory put out by the Republicans that it will be a job killer, that it will hurt young people, that it disproportionately will hurt minorities.
Now, this is what the gentleman from Wisconsin said. He is the Chairman of the House Budget Committee. Is it time for the Democrats to demand proof on these issues even further?
CLYBURN: Yes. Absolutely. And I think we will lay out as the president stated and as you`ve done, you know, this evening, Tom Harkin on the floor of the Senate. We`ve laid out proof positive as to what happens when you raise the minimum wage. And we also can see what is happening when you don`t. Worker`s morale low. Those of us who do to find ourselves employed with the taxes we`re paying we`ll have to now sell to supplement wage earners simply because the minimum wage has not kept up with inflation. If it did .
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
CLYBURN: . their current minimum wage will be somewhere around $10.66 cents an hour or enough of it. We know that. So we need to raise the minimum wage. We need to index it so that we won`t have the same .
SCHULTZ: OK.
CLYBURN: . argument every year.
SCHULTZ: And last night, the president spoke about Sergeant Cory Remsburg. He did ten tours of duty, got hit by an IED and had a very tough recovery and still recovering. Do you think it was a message to Republicans saying, "You know, look at this guy, he has sacrificed for America. Do you think you`re doing everything you can for the American people?"
That`s what I took out of it. What did you take from that?
CLYBURN: Well, I did. And I think that president was just merciful (ph) last night in identifying as you said earlier who the people who are doing what needs to be done, highlighting them rather spending a whole lot of time on people who are not doing what they should do.
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
CLYBURN: That`s what optimism is all about. I think the president had a very emotional connection with the American people as well as men and women in uniform. And I thank them so much for doing that.
SCHULTZ: That was a very emotional moment last night. It was something to be there. Congressman James Clyburn, great to have you with us tonight, sir. Appreciate your time. Thanks so much.
CLYBURN: Thank you so much for having me.
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