Talk to Power continued…

Talk to Power host Judy Woodruff interviewed Senator Thad Cochran in November of 2007 in response to hundreds of questions and comments from Yahoo readers.  Several topics were addressed. Today, our last two topics that will be addressed are Senator Cochran’s view on Defining Victory in Iraq and Bringing the Troops Home. Click here to read the previous topic, “Lobbying Reform.”

Defining Victory in Iraq

MS. WOODRUFF:  Senator, as you can imagine the war in Iraq has been a touchstone of the Talk to Power questions that have come in since we had our first guest back in August.  The comments and the questions we see seem to split fairly evenly between those who advocate a pullout and those who argue against it. 

Here’s what another reader has written in to you:  “I am now 65.  In my early years I consistently voted Republican because I believed in conservative principles.  But I am terribly disappointed in President Bush and the misrepresentations he made to gain acceptance of his war in Iraq.  My question to you:  what is President Bush’s definition of victory?  What is your definition?”

SEN. COCHRAN:  Well, my definition of victory is to bring peace and stability to the region, to be a contributing factor and an influence in stopping the killing, stopping the conflicts, creating a stable environment, a democracy in Iraq so that the people there can determine what they want from their country for themselves.  Let them be the judge, not the United States.  I think that’s what President Bush wants.  He doesn’t want to take over the government and run it from Washington.  We can’t do that, and we’re not trying to do that.  We’re trying to give the people of Iraq a chance to run their own country in peace and stability in a very volatile and dangerous region of the world.

Bringing the troops home

MS. WOODRUFF:  So, Senator, to follow up to the question, if they are scared they are going asked, forced to leave Iraq, making what they’ve done pointless, is that a possibility?

SEN. COCHRAN:  Well, I don’t know what the possibilities are.  There is a review being undertaken right now at the request of the president to help reassure us that we are doing the right thing, that we’re on the right track by being actively engaged in trying to bring this conflict to an end and create an opportunity for the people of Iraq to establish their own government that is strong enough to meet the needs of the people of that country.  We don’t want to run that country.  We have enough trouble running the United States here in our own government.  So, we know that we can’t be there for an unlimited period of time, but we think that in the near term, the soldiers and sailors who are in uniform now and marines, who are all contributing and risking their lives in many cases to stabilize the situation, are serving our national interests, and we appreciate their service very much.

Thanks for tuning in to the “Talk to Power” series!

Click here to see video footage of Senator Cochran’s response. Also, click here to see the full article on Yahoo News!

Talk to Power continued…

Talk to Power host Judy Woodruff interviewed Senator Thad Cochran in November of 2007 in response to hundreds of questions and comments from Yahoo readers.  Several topics were addressed. Today, the topic we are featuring is Senator Cochran’s view on Lobbying Reform. Click here to read the previous topic, “The State of Education.”

Lobbying Reform

MS. WOODRUFF:  And, Senator, a final question.  This reader writes:  “Senator Cochran - I am a registered Republican and a conservative of the Newt Gingrich house.  I believe my party has lost its direction as indicated by the blue dog vote going to the Democratic Party in the off year.  I believe many things have helped sway the vote. Among the one I am most concerned about is the influence peddling that continues to this day in the House and Senate.  When are we as citizens of the U.S. going to see constructive reform and an end to lobbies giving both the House and Senate money and perks to influence your votes on bills?”

SEN. COCHRAN:  Well, I think we’re making some progress in this area too, particularly with disclosure.  You know, when I was first elected, it was the first year, in 1972, when I was elected to Congress, you had to report contributions.  There were limits on contributions that could be received in dollar amounts from individuals and also from political action committees or organizations, who were, who were organized to try to be an influence in communicating with elected representatives in Congress.

This was something brand new, and it has been refined, it has been improved, it has, I think, evolved to the point now where if you want to know who’s supporting a candidate, you can get a copy of a financial disclosure report that’ll tell you where the money’s coming from and who’s getting it, who they are.  These are all - there are no secret, under-the-table contributions.  If they are, they’re against the law, and you’ll get caught and get sent to jail. 

(more…)

Talk to Power continued…

Talk to Power host Judy Woodruff interviewed Senator Thad Cochran in November of 2007 in response to hundreds of questions and comments from Yahoo readers.  Several topics were addressed. Today, the topic we are featuring is Senator Cochran’s view on The State of Education. Click here to read the previous topic, “No Child Left Behind.”

The State of Education

MS. WOODRUFF:  All right, Senator, I’m going to move now to a different topic, a domestic topic, and this one is education. 

This reader, visitor to the Web site, describes himself as a 22-year-old University of Mississippi graduate, who asked:  “Our country has become very divided over certain issues, such as gay marriage and abortion.  However, an issue that we all support - education - falls through the cracks.  What do you think it would take to finally bring the parties together to create an effective plan to fix education in the United States, and do you think that partisanship can be overcome for that cause?”

SEN. COCHRAN:  Well, I have a much more optimistic view about the future of education in the United States and maybe in the current state of education in our country.

First of all, most states assume the responsibility for running the school systems in those states, whether you’re talking about state universities. Public school systems throughout our country really are the primary responsibility of local school boards, local taxpayers who decide through their elected officials how much money goes into the school system, how big the budget is, how much teachers are paid.  These are not questions that are answered in Washington.  We don’t have a federal system for elementary and secondary education, for example.  Further, we have private schools that are alternatives to the public education system that offer for some children another opportunity.  So, it’s a very complex and not easily managed in a one-size-fits-all kind of system as you might have in some other countries. (more…)

Talk to Power continued…

Talk to Power host Judy Woodruff interviewed Senator Thad Cochran in November of 2007 in response to hundreds of questions and comments from Yahoo readers.  Several topics were addressed. Today, the topic we are featuring is Senator Cochran’s view on Saving Social Security. Click here to read yesterday’s topic, “The Role of U.S. Troops.”

Saving Social Security

MS. WOODRUFF:  Senator, a brief question about Social Security.  I don’t know if any question about Social Security can be brief.  This individual writes: “Senator, I would like to thank you for your service to our country and for the State of Mississippi, where I was raised and my parents still live.  Is there any hope of a partial privatization of Social Security with the changes that occurred in this midterm election or is the issue completely dead?”

SEN. COCHRAN:  Well, it’s probably sick, if not dead, because the new members of the House and Senate who’ve been elected give the Democrats a majority in both houses now, and there’s been a decided strong opposition on that side of the aisle to investments and other individually owned supplements to the Social Security system. 

I don’t think any of us want to in any way endanger the Social Security system.  The effort is to strengthen it and to give maybe more options for people to choose from in terms of their own personal interests and needs in a Social Security system.  I think we will continue that quest, and I’m hopeful that we will be able to have alternatives that provide people a different level of income and financial support for their retirement years.

Next: NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND so Stay Tuned!

Click here to see video footage of Senator Cochran’s response. Also, click here to see the full article on Yahoo News!

Talk to Power continued…

Talk to Power host Judy Woodruff interviewed Senator Thad Cochran in November of 2007 in response to hundreds of questions and comments from Yahoo readers.  Several topics were addressed. Today, the topic we are featuring is Senator Cochran’s view on the Role of U.S. Troops. Click here to read yesterday’s topic, “The Future of the GOP.”

The Role of U.S. Troops:

MS. JUDY WOODRUFF:  First of all, Senator Cochran, thank you very much for participating in Talk to Power.  We had a large number of comments come in from our viewers, our visitors to the Yahoo site, a large number of thoughtful comments.  We tried to choose a good cross-section, and I’m going to begin with Iraq because it is the question that keeps coming up.

This is a reader who describes himself as a naval officer, and here’s what he wrote:  “All I hear about in the news is how we (reporters, politicians, civilians) want our troops to come home from Iraq.  What do you say, Senator, to the tens of thousands of military personnel currently serving our country that believe they are doing the right thing and are scared we are going to be forced to leave Iraq, making everything we and those who have fallen, pointless?” 

SEN. COCHRAN:  Well, the first thing I would say is thank you.  Thank you for serving in the armed forces of our country.  I was a naval officer myself, so I understand the feeling.  I was lucky not to be involved in any combat operations, but nonetheless we were trained and ready to serve and ready to go wherever we were deployed, and I know that’s your situation too.  Thank you for being in uniform and protecting the security interests of our country.

(more…)

Talk to Power host Judy Woodruff interviewed Senator Thad Cochran in November of 2007 in response to hundreds of questions and comments from Yahoo readers.  Several topics were addressed including:

The Future of the GOP
The Role of U.S. Troops
Saving Social Security
No Child Left Behind
The State of Education
Defining Victory in Iraq
Bringing the Troops Home

Stay tuned this week for excerpts from this interview.  First, Senator Cochran addresses the Future of the GOP.  Read the transcript below.

Future of the GOP

MS. JUDY WOODRUFF:   From the South, and, again, in this vein, a reader writes:  “I am wondering about recent comments in the news media after the mid-term elections that the Republican Party will primarily be a Southern-based party.  Your recent election to minority leadership positions of primarily Southern senators plays this out.  Will the Republican Party be able to appeal to the broader nation in future elections, with this Southern-based leadership and outlook?  Will the Southern conservative values and perceptions be able to win broad appeal across the nation and return the party to power?”

SEN. COCHRAN:  Well, it’ll be interesting to see about the transition and how much farther it goes in terms of realignment of states with political parties.  When I was growing up, we didn’t have any local Republican elected officials.  It just didn’t happen.  But back in the Civil War days, the Republicans were the ones who were reforming the federal government, and the Democrats were sort of the old Confederates from the Civil War, and it took a long time for that transition to be made. 

(more…)