MSNBC "Decision '08" - Trascript

Interview

MSNBC "Decision '08"

MR. WILLIAMS: We want to bring in a man who's been in the news a whole lately; is certainly the apex of the coverage took place when the Democrats swept through his home state of South Carolina during this elongated primary process. James Clyburn is number three ranking Democrat in the House. He is the majority whip. He's a 15-year House veteran. That's not easy these days.

And he is, most importantly these days, an undeclared superdelegate whose had some interesting things to say about Barack Obama, about Reverend Wright, about the Clinton Family, and Congressman, thank you very much for being with us.

REP. CLYBURN: I thank you so much for having me.

MR. WILLIAMS: Where do you see tonight in the state just north of you, your neighboring North Carolina? What's your prediction?

REP. CLYBURN: Well, I think we'll see in North Carolina a very close race that will probably end up as a win for Senator Obama. I think in Indiana - a very close race - will probably end up in a win for Senator Clinton. So, I see today yielding a sort of split decision and we'll keep going.

MR. WILLIAMS: I've always found all these states so fascinating to take apart. You know all too well the political makeup of South Carolina. North Carolina has the conservative western tail; it's got that liberal bastion, the Research Triangle; and these burgeoning new metropolitan areas, the gleaming city of Charlotte. And, you can make certain assumptions based on demographics, can you not?

REP. CLYBURN: Yes, you can, but you must also look at the fact that if you - compare North and South Carolina, there's a higher African-American population and vote in South Carolina than it is in North Carolina, though there is a very progressive non-African- American vote in North Carolina. And the question then becomes: which part of North Carolina will show up at the polls and that will indicate who will do the better there.

So, a lot will be determined by what part of the state is voting.

MR. WILLIAMS: Congressman, I know you've had your issues with the Clintons during this campaign. It's estimated that by close of business today, former President Bill Clinton will have made 100 appearances in just Indiana and North Carolina combined. How would you rate what has happened to his stature in this campaign, as one our former presidents?

REP. CLYBURN: Well, you know, my concern about all of this has to do with the fact that our party for almost 40 years has been failing to be attractive to young voters. I recall when I first came into the Congress, I came in as one of the younger people coming in at the age of 50 plus.

All of the sudden now, we have young people coming into the party, getting elected, running under the Democratic banner and I do not want to see anything tamp down that enthusiasm. And so I started hearing on these college campuses people feeling that all this talk about superdelegates overturning, or in some way nullify, the activities of these young people for all these months, I just thought that was a bit unseemly.

And we should not be saying or doing anything that would cause these people to lose their interest and, once again, turn their backs on this party, the oldest political party in our country.

MR. WILLIAMS: In other words, first time voters: kids in college campuses today where they're all whooped about this campaign for the first time - this kind of excitement in my lifetime -

REP. CLYBURN: Absolutely.

MR. WILLIAMS: You fear, that if they - if this goes smoke-filled room, in other words, they may walk and walk away from the political process with a cynical view that could last a couple of decades.

REP. CLYBURN: Absolutely, and that's what I'm hearing from them. And, you know, I think anybody will accept any verdict so long as it's transparent and they feel that it's fair. But, this smoke-filled business, be it high tech or otherwise, we have to be very, very careful of. And so, that's what I fear more than anything else.

I have three daughters. I have two grandchildren, and my grandson will soon be 14 years old. He's tuned into this and he's watching this and I don't want him to every look back ask his granddaddy, why didn't you speak up when you saw this happening? And so, I am speaking up because I see it happening and I don't want to see it happen.

MR. WILLIAMS: The Majority Whip in the House of Representatives - 15-year House veteran - Congressman Clyburn, you've always been very nice about taking our questions. Sir, thank you very much for being with us.

REP. CLYBURN: Thank you so much for having me.

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