THE ED SHOW
February 28, 2014
Guest: Harley Shaiken, Virg Bernero, Sandra Fluke, Gary Doer
ED SCHULTZ, MSNBC HOST: Good evening Americans and welcome to the Ed Show
live from New York tonight.
We`re waiting the president of the United States, his statement about the
political unrest in the country of Ukraine.
Now, the latest reports from the region say armed militants have occupied
two airports in the area. Members of the Ukraine`s government say the men
were troops deployed from Russia. The Kremlin is denying these claims.
Earlier today, Ukraine`s ousted President Viktor. Yanukovych speaking in
Russian from inside Russia insisted he remains the legitimate leader of
Ukraine.
Yanukovych is wanted for murders of hundreds of protesters in the country.
The Ukraine says -- the Kremlin says it will continue to respect the
sovereignty of its neighbor. Secretary of State John Kerry made a call for
peace on all sides.
And of course on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a
surprise military exercise on the border of Ukraine with 150,000 Russian
troops. The Russian flag was planted on top of Crimea`s parliament
building, militants took control of the government`s building there and
pro-Russian demonstrators filled the streets.
Joining me now is Kristen Welker of NBC News, great to have you with us
tonight. What can we expect the president to talk about, Kristen?
KRISTEN WELKER, NBC NEWS: Well, Ed, I think you`re going to hear stern
words from President Obama to give you a sense of what we`ve been hearing
from this administration all week. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney,
National Security Advisor Susan Rice have all said it would be a grave
mistake for Russia to intervene in Ukraine.
U.S. officials at this hour confirming that that is essentially what has
happened saying that, "Uniformed Russian forces apparently a hybrid of
military and paramilitary are still flying into Simferopol . "and that is a
region in Crimea and the Ukraine`s U.N. Ambassador telling the U.N Security
Council that Russian military forces have taken over their main airports
there.
So if this is in fact the case if Russia has in fact invaded -- entered
Ukraine this will not only increase tensions in that region, between the
east and the west certainly but also continue to freeze the relationship
between the United States and Russia. And you know, Ed, one of the things
that have been discussed throughout this entire incident and issue in
Ukraine is, what is the state of the relationship between the United States
and Russia?
U.S. officials have been very adamant that this is not a return to the Cold
War and yet when you see something like this happening, if Russia has in
fact invaded Ukraine at this point it will undoubtedly just continue to
create a larger gulf between the two nations.
So that is the backdrop to the president coming out to the Brady Press
Briefing Room. Momentarily, we expect him to come out any minute now. And
again, I anticipate that he will have very stern words for Russia. The
question is will he draw a red line, if so what will the consequences be?
Those are some of the things that I will be listening quite closely for.
And it`s also worth noting, Ed, that the former president of Ukraine as you
pointed out, Yanukovych, has left Ukraine and he held a news conference
earlier today saying that he has not deposed, he is still the leader of
that country, of course many within Ukraine don`t see it that way.
So this situation continues to be volatile there and quite unpredictable
and President Obama will come out momentarily and address it all. Ed.
SCHULTZ: And we have -- we were inside the two-minute warning on that,
Kristen Welker .
WELKER: OK.
SCHULTZ: . at the White House, stay with us obviously . We want to go to
Jim Maceda on the line with us on the phone from Moscow.
Jim, we`re told that the president of the United States and also Vladimir
Putin have had words and spoken to one another on the phone. What can you
tell us about that?
JIM MACEDA, NBC NEWS, MOSCOW: Well, I don`t have any insight into that
phone conversation. I can tell you that having watched this situation
unfold here from my purge in Moscow and with my contacts into the Kremlin
that we cannot underestimate the reaction of the deep sense of betrayal in
fact that President Putin feels at this point. And given the way events
eventually unfold that he and his administration, the Kremlin was under the
impression that one thing was going to happen that February 21st agreement
was going to lead to a series of benchmarks, a timeline that would have
taken Yanukovych kept him in power until the end of the year and then
suddenly everything was slipped on its year.
Putin found himself outside of the loop as all of these forces, a whole new
group of people that Putin mistrusts profoundly, was suddenly calling the
shots not from inside key as parliament but from the streets of Kiev. And
that .
SCHULTZ: Let`s go now to President Obama at the White House. Thank you,
Jim.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
BARACK OBAMA, 44TH AND CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today, the
United States have been responding the events as they unfold in Ukraine and
throughout this crisis we have been very clear about one fundamental
principle. The Ukrainian people deserve the opportunity to determine their
own future together with our European allies, we have urged an end to the
violence and encourage Ukrainians to pursue a course in which they
stabilize their country, forge a broad based government and move to
elections this spring.
I also spoke several days ago with President Putin and my administration
has been in daily communication with Russian officials, and we`ve made
clear that they can be part of an international communities effort to
support the stability and success of a united Ukraine going forward, which
is not only in the interest of the people of Ukraine and the international
community but also in Russia`s interest.
However, we are now deeply concerned by reports of military movements taken
by the Russian Federation inside of Ukraine. Russia has a historic
relationship with Ukraine including cultural and economic ties and a
military facility in Crimea.
But any violation of Ukraine`s sovereignty and territorial integrity would
be deeply destabilizing which is not a main interest of Ukraine, Russia or
Europe. It would represent a profound interference in matters that must be
determined by the Ukrainian people. It would be a clear violation of
Russia`s commitment to respect the independence and sovereignty in the
borders of Ukraine and of international laws.
And just days after the world came to Russia for the Olympic Games it would
invite the condemnation of nations around the world. And indeed, the
United States will stand with the international community in affirming that
there will be costs for any military intervention in Ukraine.
Now the events of the past several months remind us of how difficult
democracy can be in a country with deep divisions. But the Ukraine people
have also reminded us that human beings have a universal right to determine
their own future.
Right now, this situation remains very fluid. Vice President Biden just
spoke with Prime Minister -- the Prime Minister of Ukraine to assure him
that in this difficult moment the United States supports its government`s
efforts and stands for this sovereignty, territorial integrity and
democratic future of Ukraine.
I also commend that the Ukraine government`s restraint and its commitment
to uphold its international obligations and we will continue to coordinate
closely with our European allies, we will continue to communicate directly
with the Russian government, and we will continue to keep all of you in the
press core and the American people informed as events develop.
Thanks very much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: President Obama with a brief statement at the White House about
the -- what he calls crisis in Ukraine.
Let`s go back to Kristen Welker at the White House. Very clear, deeply
concerned and deeply destabilizing. Those were strong words for the
Russian president I think, Kristen. How do you see that, Kristen?
WELKER: I think that`s the headline. Yeah, I think that`s absolutely the
headline that is sort of the one phrase that was different that we heard
from the president. You heard him say that the U.S. is deeply concerned
about this situation now warning Russia again not to basically raise the
specter of military intervention in Ukraine.
What he didn`t do though was to threaten any action on the part of the
United States. He made it very clear that Vice President Biden has been in
contact with the prime minister of Ukraine, commended the new government
there on the restraint that it has shown. Again, this was a stern warning
to Russia, it is what we expected President Obama to say, it was a brief
statement, it was to some extent reiteration of what we have heard but
again not phrase there, Ed, that you point out deeply concerned is the
headline. It is this White House essentially up in the antsy and saying,
"We`re watching what you`re doing and we`re not going to just standby."
SCHULTZ: We can only speculate if the president is concerned about
sovereignty and their military actions by the Russian federation inside the
Ukraine. We can only speculate what kind of conversation the president and
Mr. Putin had about that
And you profoundly point out, Kristen, that there were no words of any kind
of military action whatsoever but the question begs, what will it take for
the United States to possibly get involve? And does the Russian Federation
and these troops have to back off? I mean it`s very interesting the
president didn`t take any questions because certainly he didn`t want to
inflame the .
WELKER: Right.
SCHULTZ: . situation. This is a very, very tense diplomatic situation at
this point. That`s -- and deeply destabilizing I think is really a code
that, "Mr. Putin, you better back off here." How else could we take that,
Kristen, your thoughts on that?
WELKER: I think that`s absolutely right and what you`re going to see over
the next 24 hours, Ed, flurry of conversations certainly between the White
House, this administration and Russian officials. And it is such a fragile
situation because if this does escalate into some type of actual violence.
That is certainly going to change the equation. It`s going to change the
equation for the administration, for the folks on the ground in Ukraine and
obviously for Russia.
So it is going to be a tense weekend here at the White House undoubtedly as
they continue to monitor this situation and in those phone calls that they
will have, they`re going to reiterate what you heard the president say.
And to your point, Ed, probably make the point that the United States will
take some type of action, I don`t know that it would be military action,
but some type of action if this situation in Ukraine currently turns
violent. Ed.
SCHULTZ: And of course will get a reaction sometime this evening from
Capitol Hill. I`m sure.
WELKER: Absolutely.
SCHULTZ: Kristen Welker at the White House. Thank you for joining us on
the Ed Show tonight and that coverage.
You`re watching the Ed Show. We`ll be right back here on MSNBC.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCHULTZ: Welcome back to the Ed Show.
I`m sure you`ve had conversations with your friends in the past and you get
tired of hearing the story and you say, "You know, get of it. Get over
it." That`s kind of what I feel about this story is all about. But
Senator Corker if you want to keep bringing it up, I`m willing to play
along.
Tennessee Senator Bob Corker is whining about the United Auto Workers.
They are the villain all of a sudden. The guy who won by cheating and he
still isn`t happy.
Here`s what Corker told reporters about the UAW on Thursday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BOB CORKER, (R) TENNESSEE: My knowledge of the UAW came into play and
let me say this, I think my involvement from their perspective getting back
to your base question, you know, I probably am public enemy number one to
the UAW.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: No, the key word is not "enemy". The key word "involvement".
You`re involvement, Senator. Make no mistake.
Corker should be public enemy number one for the Unions because he`s
writing the book on how to defeat them. The guy intimidated workers at the
Chattanooga Volkswagen Plant, he made threats about more production not
being in Chattanooga if the vote didn`t go the right way, and if they voted
in the Union.
In the end, Corker`s misinformation campaign, well I guess you could say it
paid off. Workers voted against unionization and their own self interest.
Now, here are just a few examples, so we don`t have history revisionism
going on here. Here`s a few examples of Corker`s intimidation tactics
leading up to the vote.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CORKER: The officers a month ago, talking about fighting and combat and
all of those kind of things. If that`s the environment you want UAW is
certainly is the people for you -- are the people to choose. They can help
with the wages. You got a facility that is the most advanced,
environmentally sound facility in the world right here in Chattanooga,
Tennessee. So what`s this about? It`s about one thing. Its money and
it`s about power.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: Now in the arena of public opinion, do you think most common
sense folks would say, "That`s involvement, that`s real involvement in an
election." And now overall, Corker flat out lied about the United Auto
Workers Union.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CORKER: We support the works council notion that they`re trying to
implement. We just had concerns about the UAW, we know of their track
record. We know what`s happened in communities where they`ve been located.
We know they have been a job destroying entity through the years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: No, no, no. Corker is lying when he makes comments like that
about the UAW. UAW had saved thousands of jobs all over the country and
they have the numbers to back it up.
Let me be clear folks, Corker`s intimidation of plant workers was
absolutely unprecedented. Never in American history as a sitting United
States senator inject himself and launched into an intimidation campaign
against unionization.
I mean it`s so bad the UAW hasn`t done this before in recent history. They
have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRB
will review the matter and review the matter again and again and likely
hold hearings in a few months.
Really? A few months? I`ll get back to that in just a moment.
The hearing could spark a revote at the Chattanooga plant.
Now, Senator Corker isn`t happy about all of this. He thinks the NLRB is
stepping on his first amendment rights. Here what he had to say on
Thursday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CORKER: I hope that the National Labor Relations Board will understand and
realize the magnitude of what they`re going to be deciding and in no way
will try to muscle public officials who are community leaders from
expressing her point of views.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: Senator, give me a break. A point of view versus threats and
intimidation? Corker wasn`t expressing his point of view. Corker was
misleading workers and making threats. This guy, he`s got to be ashamed of
himself, but I don`t think he`s capable of that.
Two weeks ago, this is what the senator from Tennessee said. "I`ve had
conversations today," he said. "Based on those am assured that should the
workers vote against the UAW, Volkswagen will announce . " will announce,
key phrase there. ". will announce in the coming weeks that it will
manufacture its new mid-size SUV here in Chattanooga." The senator was
very clear.
Corker said he was assured if workers voted against the UAW, Volkswagen
would announce new production. Well on Thursday, Corker changed his tune.
Here`s what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CORKER: The UAW had been spreading rumors that the only way a new SUV line
was going to come to the plant and double its size, the only way that was
going to happen was if the plant was organized by the UAW.
Obviously, that was having an effect on people who work there. And so on
Wednesday night during the course of a three day election after a thousand
votes of 1,300 had been cast. I made the statement that I was assured that
even if the UAW did not win that Chattanooga was still its first choice.
And let me say this, I talked all up and down the chain and talked to site
selectors often. I believe and, you know, I know that Chattanooga is the
first choice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: It seems to me like the senator is trying to lessen the impact
that he had on the vote.
Corker`s original statement implied Volkswagen would announce new
production if the union was voted down. Now, Corker is saying Volkswagen
would have brought new production no matter what the outcome.
Look, his word sniffing, he`s playing a word game right now with the media,
he`s not an honest broker and that`s what I`ve said all along.
Let`s keep it focused here. This senator has injected himself into a vote
and now the National Labor Relations Board has got a decision to make.
And now for them, why months? This is a pending issue. I think the NLRB
gives government a bad name by not moving quickly on this. It`s easy to
research, let`s knock off the lunches and get to work boys. The bottom
line here is this ought to be able be done in 30 days. This is affecting
workers, this is hurting families by not allowing them to better themselves
in the workplace. So what`s the hold up?
I certainly hope that the NLRB isn`t going to be intimidated by the senator
from Tennessee who now seems to be pretty foggy about the facts when it
comes to what he said, when he said it, and what kind of impact he had.
Get your cellphones out, I want to know what you think tonight`s question.
"Should a United States senator brag about hurting his own constituents?"
Text A for yes, text B for no to 67622, you can always go to our blog
@ed.msnbc.com. We`ll bring you the results later on in the show.
For more, I want to bring in the Mayor of Lansing, Michigan Virg Bernero
and also with us tonight is Professor Harley Shaiken who is a professor at
UC Berkeley specializing in labor issues.
Professor, you first, have you ever seen an elected official inject himself
into a process the ways Senator Corker did and the governor and some
legislators?
HARLEY SHAIKEN, UC BERKELEY PROFESSOR: You know, I`ve never seen this.
Certainly at this scale, it`s truly unprecedented, it`s almost as if
Senator Corker were channeling 19th Century Robber Barons who had a
tendency to say, "Vote my way on Tuesday or don`t come to work on
Wednesday."
What he said in the guys of an anonymous conversation was an absolutely an
economic threat that is if you vote against the union you will get within
weeks a new model that`s vital for the plant. He has claimed at the time
that this was his free speech.
But Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Oliver Wendell Holmes and a
unanimous court decided this in 1919. Justice Holmes said, falsely
shouting fire is not protected by free speech.
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
SHAIKEN: This was a statement that was at variance with what everything
that Volkswagen had said publicly and privately which is the vote would
have no bearing on where their product went. And he put it in the guys -
an unanimous comment, was it a night shift security guard or the CEO of
Volkswagen who said this.
SCHULTZ: And he never identified .
SHAIKEN: I think it`s inappropriate and irresponsible.
SCHULTZ: He never identified who told him, who gave him the assurance that
if the vote went a certain way that there would extended manufacturing at
that plant.
Virg Bernero, it sure seems to me like the Senator from Tennessee is a
little foggy on how these all unfolded, how do you see it?
MAYOR VIRG BERNERO, (D) LANSING, MICHIGAN: Well, look, it was underhanded,
it was despicable and I`ll go so far, Ed, as to say, it was un-American.
Because it is a basic tenant in American law now, and an American principle
that you -- the worker gets to chose, it wasn`t always that way as the
Professor said. These were hard fought rights that labor fought in this
country. You know, sometimes we forget our history at our own peril but
people fought and suffered bloods, toil sweat and tears to win the rights
that we have as Americans to decide if we want a union.
And of course especially in this economy today with the growth of the
multinationals and the growth of the separation between the rich and the
poor, the unions helped to create the middle class in this country, and it
really help move people out of poverty, and give them real opportunity and
fulfill the American dream. And that`s why I can say it`s un-American .
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
BERNERO: . it violates the spirit and the letter of labor law. But also
it goes against the American dreams.
SCHULTZ: I mean it`s very clear that Corker is still working the story.
Corker is working the story, he`s trying to shake down the NLRB, this is
another form of intimidation trying to reverse the -- a hex around about
how this all unfolded.
BERNERO: This is an attack. This is an assault and it`s really a war on
labor and they will stop at nothing. Guys like Corker will stop at
nothing. He says he`s public enemy number one at the UAW. He`s public
enemy number one of working people. He`s public enemy number one of the
middle class. The middle class is under attack. It`s shrinking and the
outfit that can stop that is unions.
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
BERNERO: Unions created the middle class and there was going to bring the
middle class back he knows that he ain`t on the side of right. He ain`t on
the side of justice that`s for sure.
SCHULTZ: Professor, is it the culture of the NLRB to move at the speed of
molasses?
SHAIKEN: Unfortunately, at times this is the case but I think you`re
making an excellent point. This needs a very prompt resolution. The
evidence is overwhelming and clear.
And I`d also like to say I think the Mayor had an excellent point. This is
not solely a labor story, certainly not a UAW story. It`s a story about
fundamental democratic rights in any democratic society. The right to have
a union or not should be left to the workers without interference.
SCHULTZ: I can only believe that the senator might be a little bit
concerned about the NLRB but I find the discovery in this should be a lot
easier than in other situations because there`s been some immediate
comments about it done by the senator himself. It would seem to me that
the NLRB would be able to move in a much speedier pace than molasses in
Minnesota.
Gentlemen, good to have you with us tonight. Virg Bernero and also
Professor Harley Shaiken, thank you so much.
Coming up .
BERNERO: Thanks, Ed.
SHAIKEN: Thank you.
SCHULTZ: . the next big Progressive political star Sandra Fluke in studio
with me tonight.
And later, our exclusive interview with Canada`s ambassador to the United
States, Gary Doer, joins us live and talk about the Keystone XL Pipeline
and the Canadian interest and how the United States would benefit from it.
We`ll continue our series Divided Heartland: The American Debate. Stay
with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCHULTZ: Time now for the Trenders. In social media this is where you can
find us at facebook.com/edshow, twitter.com/edshow, and ed.msnbc.com. And
of course, you can find us on the radio Monday through Friday, SiriusXM,
Channel 127. You can get my podcast off the website at wegoted.com.
Now, two years ago, there was no bigger trender than this comment from Rush
Limbaugh.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUSH LIMBAUGH, "THE RUSH LIMBAUGH SHOW" HOST: What does it say that a
college coed Susan Fluke that goes before Congressional Committee and
essentially says that she must be paid to have sex? What does that make
her? It makes her a slut, right, makes her a prostitute.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: Limbaugh`s viral comment targeted to then Georgetown University
student Sandra Fluke. It was a landmark moment in the ongoing Republican
war on women. It changed the landscape in talk tadio as advertisers ran
from Limbaugh`s hate speech and the whole genre itself.
It also puts Sandra Fluke on the map as a women`s activist across America.
Now, two years after Republicans tried to silence her from speaking out on
women`s issues, health issues, Sandra Fluke wants her voice to be heard in
the California State House and she joins us tonight here on the Ed Show.
Sandra, thanks for your time.
SANDRA FLUKE, CANDIDATE FOR STATE SEN.: Thanks for having me.
SCHULTZ: You have been cast on the scene, politically in this country.
You`ve done a lot of activist work, where do you go from here running for
this position?
FLUKE: Well, I`m running for the State Senate because I want to give a
voice to my constituents. I want to be able to stand up for their concerns
around the environment. It`s a very important issue in our coastal
district and we have frucking (ph) concerns happening there. I want to
make sure that we`re fighting for the kind of good jobs that you`re always
talking about that you and I are both working on to ensure that --
especially my millennial generation has a future in the middle class and
it`s not struck down my student loan debt and the unaffordability of higher
education. And of course, we`re working on implementing the Affordable
Care Act and making sure that we do that in a way that makes healthcare
affordable for everyone.
SCHULTZ: Did Limbaugh change your life with that comment?
FLUKE: Well, he certainly changed some aspects of it and you know, the way
I look at it is it`s a microphone to talk to about issues that have always
been important to me and that`s what I continue to do, to continue to talk
about how we need to fight human trafficking and a special issue in
California that we need to prevent domestic violence, that it`s important
that we stand up for living wage ordinances.
SCHULTZ: You are not allowed to testify in front of Darrell Issa`s
committee. Have we made any progress in this country on women`s issue
since then? That`s had been a long two years and of course the Republicans
deny that there`s any kind of agenda against women.
FLUKE: Well, I think that everyone needs to be very clear that the 2012
elections did not end the attacks on women`s reproductive rights, and other
aspects of gender equality, and in fact many of those attacks are happening
in state legislatures across the country. So, while we spend a lot of time
focusing on Congress where there are clearly very problematic bills being
introduced, we also need to be looking to our state legislatures where
there`s terrible damage being done to women`s rights, to gay rights, to a
whole host of social justice issues. But on the other hand, there`s
possibilities in legislatures like California to advance these heights to
move the country forward and that`s what I`m committed to do in the State
Senate.
SCHULTZ: When you look at pay in the workplace, OK, for equal pay, what`s
going to turn that around? What has to happen? Can it be done on the
state level?
FLUKE: I believe so. There is a lot that we could do legislatively on
that issue. On the federal level, we haven`t seen progress in decades.
SCHULTZ: No movement at all. Yeah.
FLUKE: . as in decades since we updated legislation there and you can tell
that there are differences because different states have different levels.
But even in California, we have a long way to go on fair pay. Something
else I`d like to work on.
SCHULTZ: Can you win?
FLUKE: Absolutely. We`ve got an incredible reaction since launching the
campaign. We of course need everyone`s support because this is a race in
which I`m not the favorite insider political candidate who`s endorsed by a
big business in special interest. So, I hope that everyone who stood with
me in 2012 will go to standwithsandra.org and stand with me now.
SCHULTZ: Well, do you think you`re somewhat of a political target now
because you`ve been on the national platform, the country knows who you
are, you`re not sure average candidate in a state representative position
and it would seem to me that there are people working against, you know,
what you advocate for and might want to silence your voice again.
FLUKE: You know, I`m comfortable on fighting the folks who want to make on
personally. What`s important to me is that I`m accomplishing what my
constituents need and if nobody`s pushing back on that, then you`re not
really fighting for anything. So, I`m pretty comfortable with the idea
that I`m getting resistance. It means I`m creating change.
SCHULTZ: Your number one issue.
FLUKE: My number one issue is always going to be the equality and
prosperity that my constituents need.
SCHULTZ: Well, that would be a lot of things.
FLUKE: That`s right for number one issue.
SCHULTZ: Yeah. Sandra, good luck to you.
FLUKE: Thank you so much.
SCHULTZ: I appreciate your time.
FLUKE: Thank you.
SCHULTZ: Thanks for stopping in tonight.
There`s a lot more coming up on the Ed Show. Stay tuned.
COURTNEY REAGAN, CNBC CORRESPONDENT: I`m Courtney Reagan with your CNCB
Market Wrap. The Dow jumped 49 points. The S and P 500 added 5. The
NASDAQ, down 10.
Bad weather is blamed in part for the U.S. economy slow growth rate in the
fourth quarter. GDP grew at a 2.4 percent rate down from 4.1 percent in
the third quarter.
Pending home sales were relatively flat in January edging up 0.1 percent.
Consumer`s sentiment rose slightly this month coming in just roll back
expectations.
That`s it from CNBC. We`re first in business worldwide.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCHULTZ: Welcome back to the Ed Show. For weeks, we`ve been bringing you
both sides of the story of the Keystone XL Pipeline. Landowners and
farmers have expressed serious concerns about the pipeline. They don`t
want the pipeline running through their land. On the other side of the oil
companies and of course in some politicians, want this project to happen.
Now, the Canadian government has been very clear. They think the XL
Pipeline will be good for both the United States and the Canadian economy.
Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper made this very clear.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN HARPER, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: President Obama and I had an
exchange on this. My views in favor of the project are very well known.
His views on the process are also equally well known. And we had that
discussion.
On the issue of climate change, which is a shared concern, Canada and the
United States have similar targets at the international level. We already
cooperate in several sectors in terms of emissions reductions. But in
terms of climate change, I think the State Department report already was
pretty definitive on that particular issue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: Joining me tonight is the Canadian Ambassador to the United
States Gary Doer. Mr. Ambassador, great to have you with us tonight.
AMB. GARY DOER, CANADIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: Well thank you very much Ed
and.
SCHULTZ: Thank you so much.
DOER: . thanks for having on.
SCHULTZ: You bet. I`ve heard a lot both sides on this issue. Let`s talk
about the Canadian perspective. Does Canada want this pipeline to come
through to the United States to go down to be refined in the Gulf?
DOER: Yes we do. We think it makes a lot of sense for both countries, as
you say. It was proposed about five years ago to displace Venezuelan oil.
We have a great trading relationship with the United States including in
energy. And we think it makes a lot of sense to have this pipeline
proceed. But not only proceed with Canadian oil, but also proceed with
Bakken oil from North Dakota and Montana.
Now, the oil is coming down to United States now. And as the State
Department has properly documented, it`s coming down on rail, and you and I
both know Highway 2 in North Dakota. 500 tanker trucks a day with oil and
we think it makes more sense to be on a pipeline.
SCHULTZ: So, tar sands oil, to be very clear, is already being refined in
the Gulf?
DOER: Yes it is.
SCHULTZ: OK. And this would just bring more but to market?
DOER: Well not -- it would bring more, but it would bring in with a
pipeline -- and the State Department, you have people, as you say, on
either side of this issue.
SCHULTZ: Sure.
DOER: But if we look at the independent meritorious review of the State
Department in the 2000 pages, they say it`s safer, it`s less costs, and it
has less greenhouse gases to have it on a pipeline rather than rail and
trucks. And as I say, you and I both know, Highway 2 in North Dakota.
SCHULTZ: Sure.
DOER: You know, 500 trucks a day, that`s why you`ve got a Democratic
Senator and a Republican Senator saying put it on a pipeline.
SCHULTZ: OK. Yeah. Rail, obviously, is really being loaded up with oil
right now and the safety issue is what the proponents are really saying
about this pipeline. But the quality of oil, we keep hearing that this is
the worst oil to ever come out of the ground that is far more toxic than
other oil that is already on the market. Is that true?
DOER: Well, the State Department report again says the oil is comparable
to the oil it`s displacing in Venezuela. Secondly, if you look at the
Department of Energy report, ironically, the highest greenhouse gas
emission oil in North America is actually thermal oil from California. Of
course, we don`t mean to say that we can`t and must continue to improve the
stewardship of that oil. And we use to use 10 barrels of water for one
barrel of oil. Now, we`re down to one to one. We`re continuing to have
the land reclamation in the area. We rather continue to reduce greenhouse
gases through innovation and we will do that and we are doing that.
SCHULTZ: OK. Why not refine it in Canada? A lot of those questions.
DOER: Some of the oil is refined in Canada. But it`s displaced in -- the
purpose of this pipeline is to displace Venezuelan oil to make United
States less reliable or less reliant rather on Middle Eastern oil. So that
was the purpose of the pipeline to begin with. And when you look at those
goal posts, they`ve been -- the balls gone through those goal posts then
there was the issue of the Sandhill portion in Nebraska.
That pipeline has now being rerouted to deal with that concern that has
been raised in the State of Nebraska. And now, the President saying it has
to be -- it can`t increase greenhouse gases in any significant way. While
the State Department also answers that question, it says that it would be
higher greenhouse gases if you were going to say no to the pipeline.
SCHULTZ: Now, there`s been some questions by environmentalists about the
integrity of the State Department.
DOER: Yeah, I think that`s really unfair and I`m not the Secretary of
State.
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
DOER: But this is the second time they`ve questioned the integrity of the
scientists and the experts in the State Department that are not political
appointments.
SCHULTZ: What is it that.
DOER: And I respect their integrity.
SCHULTZ: OK.
DOER: You know, we may not have like the State Department report, but we
would never -- and we do think it`s a good report by the way. We think
it`s very accurate. But we would never attack the integrity of those
scientists and (inaudible) reports.
SCHULTZ: They`re saying that environmentalists are saying it`s been a
conflict of interest and the.
DOER: Well, they.
SCHULTZ: . inspector general says not.
DOER: It`s not like a house (ph) of courage by an independent review of
the inspector.
SCHULTZ: OK
DOER: . general. And I think, at some point, when you make these
allegations and when you`re accountable for -- when you`re wrong.
SCHULTZ: You really want this pipeline?
DOER: No, but I also think that.
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
DOER: . I think it`s been very unfair to people that can`t speak of.
SCHULTZ: OK.
DOER: And again, I`m not the Secretary of State.
SCHULTZ: Sure, sure. OK. Now, Secretary Kerry gave a speech.
DOER: Yes.
SCHULTZ: It was very pointed about the climate change and global warming,
called it the weapon of mass destruction. Is he, your sense, not going to
recommend that this pipe be built?
DOER: Well, why would you say no to a pipeline and have higher greenhouse
gasses with rail. I agree that -- I don`t agree with some of everything --
necessarily the flare in which you`ve said it.
SCHULTZ: Sure.
DOER: But, I think -- and the prime minister and the president both talked
about it last week. We have the ability to have energy security in our
neighborhood, of Canada, United States, and Mexico. Look at all the --
you`ve heard Brian Schweitzer talked before.
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
DOER: Governor Schweitzer talked about how many people went from his
national guard over to the Middle East. We have the chance to have that,
but we also are -- have the chance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in
North America and we`re going to continue to do that. We don`t see and I
didn`t see when I was premier in Manitoba, a pipeline as climate change. I
saw closing a coal plant potentially is being helpful or I saw light
vehicle emission standards which the president and the prime minister have
agreed too. We both have the same energy efficiency for cars -- that is
climate change.
SCHULTZ: All right. Tell us what happens if the pipeline is not built.
What happens to that oil? I keep -- I`m always hearing that these oils
coming out of the ground. The Canadians already get this out to the
ground.
DOER: Yeah. And we.
SCHULTZ: It`s already coming out, but it`s going to come out a faster
phase. Why not put it to the West Coast?
DOER: Well, there are also pipeline in the West Coast. There`s a proposal
for two more. So, yes it can.
SCHULTZ: With this pipeline the Keystone?
DOER: No, no, not with this but, there are two proposed pipelines.
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
DOER: . to United States. There`s two to the West Coast proposed and two
to the East Coast. And.
SCHULTZ: Are the Canadian people fighting the one to the West Coast?
(INAUDIBLE)
DOER: If you have a transmission line.
SCHULTZ: Yeah
DOER: . if you have a pipeline. If you have a pipeline with carbon
dioxide from North Dakota to be.
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
DOER: . to be sequestered in Saskatchewan, I guarantee you, you will have
people that disagree with it. And we can`t sometimes get clean energy.
SCHULTZ: OK.
DOER: . on a transmission line.
SCHULTZ: Will it be refined better in the Gulf that it would be in China?
DOER: Well, there`s higher standards in United States than China.
SCHULTZ: OK. And what if the president says no to this? What does this
do to diplomatic relations with Canada? Does it really.
DOER: Well, first of all, if the president says no, he`s saying yes to
higher greenhouse gasses, because the oil is coming down, whether anybody
likes it or not, on rail that does not require his presidential permit.
So, the choice for John Kerry and to the president is do you want the oil
coming through United States and through Canada.
SCHULTZ: OK
DOER: . on rail or do you want it on pipelines?
SCHULTZ: I have to ask you.
DOER: Lower cost, lower risk, and lower GHG`s on pipelines.
SCHULTZ: All right.
DOER: Other than that it`s not that complicated.
SCHULTZ: All right. Mr. Ambassador, I got to ask you about the situation
in Ukraine. Your thoughts on that -- in the aggressive move by the
Russians -- the Russian Federation holding military operations inside
Ukraine.
DOER: Well, our Administrative Foreign Affairs is there as you`re asking
me the question. We feel that we have to demonstrate solidarity with the
democratic aspirations of the Ukrainian people, the disappointments that
they`ve had over the last number of weeks and months. And that`s why our
foreign minister has been deployed and is there as we speak.
SCHULTZ: The President says his deeply concerned.
DOER: We are too. Yes, we share his concerns.
SCHULTZ: And are you concerned about possible military action by the
Russians?
DOER: The President been used that term and we`re trying to work very
carefully with United States. With all weekend long, we are working in
consort with United States. We`re working together with the administration
in Washington.
SCHULTZ: All right. Gary Doer, great to have you with us tonight.
Canadian Ambassador to the United States.
We`ll have more coming up here on the Ed Show stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCHULTZ: Coming up, we continue our series Divided Heartland: The American
Debate. Tonight, we explore the changing landscape of politics on the
Keystone XL Pipeline. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCHULTZ: Thanks for staying with us tonight.
The Keystone XL Pipeline debate crosses all party lines and cuts to the
core of American values. The fight is forever changing politics in a
different state in the middle of the country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM TARNICK, KEYSTONE XL OPPONENT: It`s time to step up and say "no."
SCHULTZ: This fight for land and rights has forged new alliances on the
political horizon in Nebraska.
TARNICK: I used to think elect -- whoever you elect in an office, you
know, they were working for you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For you.
TARNICK: For the guy that got them in.
SCHULTZ: That`s not the way it`s happening?
TARNICK: Right. (Inaudible) definitely.
JANE KLEEB, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BOLD NEBRASKA: That`s why it`s been so
successful. We really have been kind of teaching each other along the way.
WIZIPAN LITTLE ELK, ROSEBUD SIOUX TRIBE: We`re, you know, very thankful
and appreciative of the support and the efforts that our friends, you know,
Indian and non-Indian throughout the country have -- are showing.
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
From ranchers to farmers, to Native Americans, this is an alliance of
cultures never seen before on the political landscape.
LITTLE ELK: We`re very pleased with our brothers and sisters in Nebraska
in their recent went.
KLEEB: As Americans, we now have to translate this power that we`ve
developed as citizens to electoral power. That`s going to be a challenge
that we`re facing in 2014 as well as 2015. Because we have the energy and
we have the power amongst us. And now, we have to essentially say look,
these folks who said that they`re representing us who said also it`s a good
things, never were here for us and we`ve got to elect new people who are
actually going to have our backs.
SHANNON CRAVES, KEYSTONE XL OPPONENT: We`re going to have a bigger impact
on the upcoming elections.
SCHULTZ: Some feel this entire Keystone XL Pipeline issue is going to
change Nebraska`s political future.
KLEEB: There is no question on my mind.
CRAVES: I am a registered Republican that`s going to vote for a Democratic
senator. How`s that for you?
KLEEB: Anybody that thinks this is a flash in the pan or a small minority
of people has not been paying attention.
RANDY THOMPSON, SUED TO STOP PIPELINE IN NE: Yeah, I must tell you, Ed,
I`m actually a Republican. I have then for 41 years, 42 years registered
Republican. And I`m extremely disappointed in that, you know, it`s just --
and I`m sure there are Democrats same way, but this appears to me the
Republican Party has, you know, they just become the political wing for
corporate America.
CRAVES: And we`re all brought together as an alliance. An alliance, by
its definition, is a group of people working for a common goal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: And next week on the Ed Show, will the pipeline be built if it`s
built with American Steel? I`ll be in Pittsburgh tomorrow working on that
story.
That`s the Ed Show. I`m Ed Schultz.
Politics Nation with Reverend Al Sharpton starts right now. Good evening,
Rev.
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BE UPDATED.
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The Ed Show for Friday, February 28th, 2014
Read the transcript to the Friday show