FOX "Your World with Neil Cavuto" - Transcript: Ebola

Interview

NEIL CAVUTO, HOST: Meanwhile, it's not quite an all-out ban, but the Department of Homeland Security announcing new travel restrictions as it battles Ebola.

Starting tomorrow, anyone arriving in the U.S. from three Ebola-stricken countries, Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, will be required to fly into five U.S. airports equipped with advanced screenings and additional resources in place to make sure they can come in here and will be safe here.

Republican Congressman Louie Gohmert says still not enough.

You say we need an outright ban, right, Congressman?

REP. LOUIE GOHMERT, R-TEXAS: Yes, we absolutely do. Look at Nigeria.

I mean, the leaders of Nigeria may not be as well-educated as the leaders in America, but they're certainly smarter. They immediately put a ban on travel into Nigeria, and they're right there in the neighborhood geographically. They put a ban on it. And as of this week, they're now Ebola-free.

Saying that they can only land in five different airports, and we're going to check their temperatures, Neil, you have read the information. You can easily have this thing incubating for 21 days before it manifests itself. That's not going to protect us.

And what he -- what this policy does, what it provides is what we call the hospital gown coverage. Their goal at the White House is just to make you think you are covered, when actually you're exposed from areas you don't see.

(LAUGHTER)

GOHMERT: This isn't going to provide the protection we need. We're exposed.

CAVUTO: Well, you know, to their -- to their point, Congressman, they're saying, look, we have not had any renewed incidents late -- lately, this does seem to be -- knock on whatever -- for the short-term duration and any new flare-ups.

So, why overreact, freeze all travel, get this situation in a crazy state? That's kind of their point of view.

GOHMERT: Why react? It's not an overreaction. It's what every caring mother has told her kids. My late mother said it at times.

Look, either you're sick, you're not going over and taking that, or they're sick. You're not going there. I mean, it's what every mother knows. And this president doesn't get it, and so it's not an overreaction when you want to save lives.

This is a deadly disease, worse than any bird flu virus ever was, ever was going to be thought to be. Our border is still wide open. People are still coming, and as our military general has said, when it comes to Central America, it's coming straight into the United States, and this administration has not done anything to properly protect us. And then not only that...

CAVUTO: Well, would that extend Congressman -- I understand, but does -- think about what you're saying here, because then that would mean that if we froze travel, that would include Americans going over there to deal with this situation. Or do you want that?

GOHMERT: You can have -- no, you can have a one-way ban.

You can say, people are not going to be coming in from these three countries that have Ebola as widespread infection, an epidemic. You can ban travel coming into the United States. And, yes, now, I do not think it's a good idea to send 4,000 of our military, some of them 101st Airborne. These people are trained to kill people, to protect us from those who want to kill us individuals.

CAVUTO: Right.

GOHMERT: We ought to be sending medical personnel who volunteer and he's sending our military over there? You talk about hospital gown coverage. They said they're going to give them masks and gloves and tell them to wash their hands regularly. Our military is going to be exposed.

And then we can't even find out whether our military will be allowed back in the United States if they get it. They're not thinking about anything but politics, and in reference to the previous guests commented..

CAVUTO: Well, what is to be gained politically? No, think about that. What is to be gained politically from sending 3,000 or 4,000 of our troops there? What do they get out of that?

GOHMERT: Well, it makes it look like this president is doing something.

(CROSSTALK)

GOHMERT: When, actually, it's not doing anything.

CAVUTO: Well, 3,000 or 4,000 troops -- well, wait a minute -- 3,000 or 4,000 troops over there, that is doing something.

GOHMERT: It is doing something, but it's not smart.

These are not people that are trained to put on Band-Aids. They're going to be sent over there to do things they're not trained to do. And the protocols are not in place. They are not going to be adequately protected from terrorists. It is -- again, it makes it look like the administration is doing something, and if the administration had another gaffe, which in the White House means they temporarily accidentally tell the truth, the truth would be the only reason they sent them over there was for political coverage to look like we were doing something to address it.

CAVUTO: Well, would you feel any differently if they sent 3,000 or 4,000 doctors over there?

GOHMERT: If they volunteered. Let them volunteer.

CAVUTO: All right.

GOHMERT: Doctors and nurses who volunteer, they're over there where there's Ebola can say, no, I don't want -- I don't think it's proper to handle it that way, whereas the military has to say, yes, sir, and walk up and do whatever they're told to do or they end up in jail.

Let volunteering medical personnel go. Americans are very good about being charitable and doing that. Don't send our military for that kind of purpose.

CAVUTO: Congressman, thank you very much.

GOHMERT: Always good to see you and talk to you, Neil.

CAVUTO: All right.

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