MSNBC "Hardball" - Transcript

MATTHEWS: We are back with a couple members of Congress who were very involved in this debate, in fact this big fight on Capitol Hill that has yielded a new leader: Steny Hoyer of Maryland is the new Mr. Democrat on the House side right now. We just had him on.

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Let‘s go to my friend from Philly, Chaka Fattah—we haven‘t talked to in too many months. Chaka, are you going be mayor of Philly soon, or what? What‘s happening?

REP. CHAKA FATTAH (D), PENNSYLVANIA: I have a big announcement on that on Saturday. But today we will deal with this election in the House.

MATTHEWS: Can I assume that you‘re going for bigger things in Philly?

FATTAH: I can just tell you that I am energized about the idea of this mayor‘s race and I‘m going to have something to say on that on Saturday at noon. Why don‘t you come on down and.

MATTHEWS: You‘re so coy! Good luck with your decision. if you make it then. I have always supported you and I will continue to support you, Mr. Fattah, Congressman.

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MATTHEWS: Let‘s listen to another voice. Congressman Fattah, you supported Jack Murtha—is that because you love the guy like so many of us do, or is it because you like his politics, or are you just from Pennsylvania? How would you describe your motives?

FATTAH: First of all, I love Jack Murtha, and I think the country loves him for his courage in standing up against this war. He got a lot of votes in the Democratic Caucus today, but it did not add up to a win for him. But I think those who know him Jack Murtha know that that was—that is one moment in time. We‘re going to be united. Steny Hoyer deserves this victory. He got the lion‘s share of the votes today and we are going be a united caucus.

But Jack Murtha will be remembered as the person who awakened the country to the fact of this misadventure in Iraq, that we needed to turn away from it. And he took a lot of blows. And I think that the fact that he ran for leader is part and parcel of his passion about the war.

He has been in Congress and he has never ran for the leadership. He‘s never had any interest in the leadership. His only reason for stepping forward today as a candidate was he wanted to give voice to this passion that we heard on election day, that we really need a new direction in terms of Iraq.

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MATTHEWS: Who put those nicer houses up?

Now that you‘re on, I got to ask you, Congressman Fattah, when you

drive in from the airport in Pennsylvania, and there‘s all these real new -

remember the pretty bad—all projects, because I think Bill Cosby grew up in one of those. Anyway, and then you go by them now, they‘re all sort of modern, almost suburban housing.

Who‘s responsible for that?

FATTAH: Well, I led the effort to get rid of the high-rises and to create these more modern public housing, and to also have mixed income. We need, for families, front yards and backyards, a little California-like, Maxine, so that kids can play and grow.

So we led that fight. We‘ve invested in it. But, you know, this Republican majority‘s been cutting back on the Hope Six program and other programs.

We‘re going have to—that‘s why we have to get out of Iraq. We are spending $11 million a minute in Iraq, $8 billion a month. And we can‘t invest that here in cities like Philadelphia and L.A. and New York. We can‘t do that is we‘re spending it in Iraq.

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MATTHEWS: And Congressman Fattah, if you do become mayor of Philadelphia, I‘d like to see a more consistent performance by the Eagles, I mean, they‘re really a talented team. How about if they show it every Sunday from now? Is that a commitment from you in this campaign?

FATTAH: Well, you know, will be able to handle the Redskins at least.

MATTHEWS: Well, that‘s always been a problem for me—you guys and me—guys.

Anyway, I love Philly.

Good luck in the mayor‘s race if you make the run. I think you will.

Congressman Chaka Fattah of Philadelphia, Maxine Waters, a hero in her own time.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15766430/