MSNBC Interview - Transcript

Interview

MS. BREWER: Republicans have been criticizing Barack Obama for appearing too presumptuous. Headlines and political Web sites are now jumping on comments Obama made at a meeting with House Democrats as possible proof. But context is key here. According to the Web site, Politico, the full quote was, "It has become increasingly clear in my travel that the crowds, the enthusiasm, 200,000 people in Berlin is not about me at all; it's about America. I have just become the symbol of a possibility of America returning to our best traditions."

So those initial reports only focused on the last sentence making it sound like Obama was talking about himself, becoming a symbol of America's best traditions.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Democrat from Texas, an Obama supporter and I understand, congresswoman, you were there at the meeting yesterday. What do you recall him saying?

REP. JACKSON LEE: Well, first of all, I never experienced such a coming together, a unity, a connectedness as we did yesterday, bringing everyone together no matter who they supported in the primary. We felt the train was running and it was a victory train.

Senator Obama was eloquent, but he was humble and it's unfortunate that our friends on the other side of the aisle have nothing to talk about, no issues other than to criticize and make inaccurate statements. He truly said that this visit, although he did excellently and warmed the hearts of Americans, Europeans and those in Iraq and Afghanistan, he truly said we're in this together. We are moving together. I was a symbol of the hopes and dreams of those in Iraq, Afghanistan and Europe. You, working alongside of me, will exhibit the team leadership that will change America, that will give hope to America. That was the spirit. That was the cause for a standing ovation, the fact that we were embraced by Senator Obama, by him recognizing that the people look to him as a symbol of the good people of America.

I thought it was the most monumental moment in that session.

MS. BREWER: Do you think that if he had just said, if he had just said, I have just become a symbol of the possibility of America returning to our best traditions -- that sentence in and of itself, do you think that that is presumptuous? I mean, do you agree that if that had been the only sentence without the context that it would have been enough for people to think, well, who does he think he is?

REP. JACKSON LEE: Well, Contessa, I don't think Senator Obama would have said that. In all of his travels as we watched him, he exhibited humbleness. He exhibited a certain decorum, that he was a senator traveling, that he happened to be the presumptive nominee, not the presumptive president. He was reaching out. He was explaining to people who he was. He wouldn't have said that, and frankly, I think, he was excited to be standing with a Congress that was led by a do- something leadership and Speaker Pelosi, who has managed to get the most major mortgage foreclosure bill passed against the opposition of the White House, minimum wage, fix the health care system, fix the GI bill crisis, passing the greatest GI bill since the first one after World War II, he was standing with the Democrats because they are doing something and the American people want something done.

MS. BREWER: Briefly --

REP. JACKSON LEE: They don't want negatives and they don't want criticism and inaction.

MS. BREWER: Congresswoman, let me ask you about a campaign alert I've just been handed right now that Governor Bill Richardson is planning to hold two fundraisers for Hillary Clinton in New Mexico, some sort of olive branch because we know that there was a rift between the Clintons and Richardson after Richardson came out and endorsed Obama.

Do you think it's important for Democrats to help Hillary Clinton retire her debt, to bring those Hillary Clinton supporters back into the fold?

REP. JACKSON LEE: Well, absolutely, and I think the unity trip that was taken by both Senator Obama and Senator Clinton evidenced that. I've been in meetings where there have been Senator Obama supporters, Senator Clinton supporters. There has been a genuine interest of unity and coming together. People know that our values are vested in a Democratic nominee.

MS. BREWER: Yeah.

REP. JACKSON LEE: And we think he is great and let me thank Governor Richardson for being part of that. We're doing one in Houston on this Thursday. I'll be in Washington. Unity is important.

MS. BREWER: And I'm sure that Hillary Clinton appreciate that as well. Congresswoman, great to see you today. Thank you for your time.

REP. JACKSON LEE: It was a great meeting, I can tell you that and we're ready to win with Senator Obama.

MS. BREWER: Thank you, ma'am.

REP. JACKSON LEE: Thank you.

END.

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