'This Week' Transcript: Karl Rove and David Plouffe

Transcript: Rep. Larson vs. Rep. Cantor, Rove vs. Plouffe

ByABC News
January 22, 2010, 2:35 PM

March 21, 2010 — -- (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KARL: Good morning, and welcome to "This Week."

OBAMA: Let's get this done.

KARL: It's all over but the counting.

(UNKNOWN): I will be voting yes for the bill.

(UNKNOWN): I cannot at this point in time honestly give you a straight yes-or-no answer.

BOEHNER: Let's kill the bill.

KARL: Will the Democrats have the votes?

(UNKNOWN): There's no way they can pass this bill.

(UNKNOWN): We believe we have the votes.

KARL: The latest from the chair of the Democratic caucus, John Larson, and House Republican Whip Eric Cantor.

And the president's men. David Plouffe, the man who ran Obama's campaign, and Karl Rove, the architect behind Bush's campaign, together for the first time to debate health care reform and the midterm elections (inaudible) "This Week" exclusive.

Then, our powerhouse roundtable. Two veteran Senate leaders, Democrat Tom Daschle and Republican Trent Lott, join ABC's George Will and Sam Donaldson on all the week's politics.

And as always, the Sunday funnies.

LETTERMAN: Tiger Woods coming back to golf, ladies and gentlemen. The Masters in April. Tiger wants another green jacket. He left the other one in a Las Vegas motel.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: From the heart of the nation's capital, "This Week" with ABC's congressional correspondent Jonathan Karl, live from the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue.

KARL: Good morning. One of the most far-reaching bills in modern American history hangs in the balance this morning, and a handful of wavering Democrats will decide whether to vote for health care reform or let the president's signature issue die on the House floor.

We are joined this morning by two members of Congress keeping track of the vote count, John Larson, the chairman of the Democratic caucus, and, of course, Eric Cantor, the Republican whip.

So, Chairman Larson, where are the votes?

LARSON: We have the votes. We are going to make history today. Not since President Roosevelt passed Social Security, Lyndon Johnson passed Medicare, and today, Barack Obama will pass health care reform, demonstrating whose side we're on.

KARL: But let me pin you down.

LARSON: Go ahead.

KARL: You have the votes now?

LARSON: We have the votes now.

KARL: You have 216...

LARSON: As we speak.

KARL: ... commitments now?

LARSON: Yes.

KARL: Do you believe him?