Transcript: Tom DeLay On John McCain And More
© National Journal Group Inc.
Friday, Feb. 8, 2008
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National Journal's Linda Douglass sat down with former Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Tex., for the February 8 edition of "National Journal On Air." This is a transcript of their conversation.
Audio of the full show is also available.
Q: I'd like to introduce Tom DeLay. He is the former majority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, and he is now the founder of the Coalition for a Conservative Majority, which is a grassroots organization that is dedicated to pushing a conservative agenda. Welcome, Congressman DeLay.
DeLay: It's great to be with you, Linda.Q: Thank you so much. Well, let's get right at it: Could you support, and can you support, John McCain as the nominee?
DeLay: Well, I think it's too early to say. I want John McCain to address the issues of concern that I have, particularly in his record: his record on global warming which could be used as an excuse to over-regulate our economy, his record on illegal immigration -- I think he still needs to be specific about where he wants to lead the nation beyond just border security -- and I could go on and on and on. The fact that he wants the United States to join the International Criminal Court, which wants to try our soldiers for war crimes -- I mean, there's just one issue after another that he has been involved in, not the least of which is, is he a supply-sider or is he not? So as he answers those kinds of things, obviously we can come to some sort of conclusion.Q: Could you really imagine yourself not voting for him if he's the Republican candidate for president?
DeLay: No, probably not, but it just depends on how this all shakes out. I mean, it's a long ways to November. There is going to be a huge national debate that's going to go on in this election, and people are going to have to decide the direction of the country. And you know, I've seen candidates that worked very hard to undermine the conservative movement, to undermine the Republican Party, and still become president. So what we need to be doing right now is establishing where we are as a party, defining ourselves as a party, and where do we want to lead the country and who do we want to lead it?Q: Well, you, certainly, when you were in the Congress and now -- given what you are doing now -- were devoted to trying to keep the Republican Party on the conservative track. Would you say that it is more important to do that than it is to have a Republican in the White House this time around?
DeLay: Well, that's a decision you don't have to make. Obviously, it is more important to keep the party the conservative party in this nation. The time spent now for people like me that's trying to push the conservative cause is to win the debate, win the national debate, be part of what would be a governing coalition in the future. Obviously, if you're presented with John McCain and Hillary Clinton, the differences in the overall general direction of the country will be immense. Obviously, Hillary Clinton wants to lead us to the left; John McCain will hopefully lead us to the right. And when that comes, people like me need to be involved in that debate and driving the different issues of the day.Q: Of course, you know the pundits often say that he is the strongest general election candidate because he has such appeal to independents, and that if he were to move farther to the right, as so many conservatives want him to do, that that would hurt him in the general election. What about that?
DeLay: Well, those are pundits who lean to the left, obviously; they don't want him to move to the right. But it's obvious even now in the primaries, the turnout in the Democrat primaries have been overwhelming; the turnout in the Republican primaries have been disappointing, and there is a reason for that. The reason is our coalition is not excited about our leadership, nor is it excited about the political arena as they see it. If John McCain does not appeal to the base of the party, they will stay home and he will not be elected.Q: Do you trust him? I often hear from conservatives that they don't trust him.
DeLay: That's a very good question. I disagree with John McCain in his approach, as well as the issues he has dealt with over his career. Trust, I don't think has much to do with it. He's going to have to build trust with the conservatives between now and the November election if he expects to be elected.Q: Thank you so much, Congressman Tom DeLay. Always great to have you on the program.
DeLay: My pleasure, Linda.