Transcript: President Bush Interview, Part 3
Dec. 16, 2003 -- Following are further excerpts from Diane Sawyer's Dec. 16 interview with President Bush.
Following the News
DIANE SAWYER: First of all, I just want to ask about reading. Mr. President, you know that there was a great deal of reporting about the fact that you said, first of all, that you let Condoleezza Rice and Andrew Card give you a flavor of what's in the news.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes.
DIANE SAWYER: That you don't read the stories yourself.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes. I get my news from people who don't editorialize. They give me the actual news, and it makes it easier to digest, on a daily basis, the facts.
DIANE SAWYER: Is it just harder to read constant criticism or to read —
PRESIDENT BUSH: Why even put up with it when you can get the facts elsewhere? I'm a lucky man. I've got, it's not just Condi and Andy, it's all kinds of people in my administration who are charged with different responsibilities, and they come in and say this is what's happening, this isn't what's happening.
The Economy
DIANE SAWYER: One of the worrying sectors is still jobs. Treasury Secretary John Snow said that we needed to create 200,000 more jobs a month in order, at the end of this, for you not to be the first president, as everyone has said, since Herbert Hoover, who had a net job loss in his term. How are you going to create 200,000 new jobs a month?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, first, let's make sure the record, so I can distinguish myself from Herbert. I inherited the recession. I didn't create one. When we showed up in office, the country was beginning to go into decline, and we responded with some tax relief, strong tax relief to stimulate the economy, and it's working. It is also important that people keep — at least remember that the attacks happened just as the economy was coming around. We had corporate scandals, which we've acted strongly, "we" being the Congress and the executive branch. You know, it didn't help that we were marching to war, in all due respect for the TV stations and networks, there was at least — I know one had "March to War" every day on TV, which is not conducive to capital investment when you think you're marching to war. Anyway, we've overcome those obstacles, and the country's — the economy's growing. And I'm pleased and won't rest until people can — who are looking for a job can find work. But I am pleased with the progress we have made. ...
DIANE SAWYER: What worries you most about the economy? The deficit? [inaudible] campaigning against them and —
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yeah, well, you got to understand, we're at war and I'm going to spend what is needed to win the war. And we've got to protect the homeland. We'll spend what's needed to protect the homeland.... We've got a plan to cut it in half over the next five years. It means Congress is going to have to tow the line when it comes to spending. We can't — they can't, particularly in campaign years, try to be all things to all people and overspend. But I think we're making good progress. I'm satisfied with the progress we've made ...
Gay Marriage
DIANE SAWYER: Massachusetts Supreme Court said that they were not, they did not feel the law was in a position to block gay marriage. When you talk about the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, are you saying you will absolutely support a Constitutional amendment against gay marriage and against gay civil unions?
PRESIDENT BUSH: If necessary, I will support a constitutional amendment which would honor marriage between a man and a woman, codify that, and will — the position of this administration is that whatever legal arrangements people want to make, they're allowed to make, so long as it's embraced by the state or [?] start at the state level. Let me tell you, the court I thought overreached its bounds as a court. It did the job of the legislature. It was a very activist court in making the decision it made. As you know, I'm a person who believes in judicial restraint, as opposed to judicial activism that takes the place of the Legislative Branch.
DIANE SAWYER: But you and Secretary — why do I get —
PRESIDENT BUSH: It's just a throwback.
DIANE SAWYER: That's right. Some of us are still —
PRESIDENT BUSH: Vice President Cheney.
DIANE SAWYER: Thank you very much. Some of us are still stuck back in the '70s and '80s. Vice President Cheney has spoken out in favor of civil unions. In the 2000 election, you said pretty much it was a state issue.
PRESIDENT BUSH: That's right. Except and unless judicial rulings undermine the sanctity of marriage. In which case, we may need a Constitutional amendment.
DIANE SAWYER: And do you think that the defense of marriage law is enough then?
PRESIDENT BUSH: It may be undermined at this point. I also think it's very important, on this subject, that the country be tolerant of people and understand people, but tolerance and belief in marriage aren't mutually exclusive points of view.
DIANE SAWYER: Are they sinners? Are gays sinners?
PRESIDENT BUSH: We're all sinners. We're all sinners, and that's important for —
DIANE SAWYER: No distinction.
PRESIDENT BUSH: I think we're all sinners. One of my favorite Bible verses says, "Why would I take a speck out of your eye when I have a log in my own?" ... and having said that, however, I do believe in the sanctity of marriage. ... but I don't see that as conflict with being a tolerant person or an understanding person. ...
Page 1 |2 | 3